Schroeder faces rout in German state polls

The Times of India ^ | Februari 02 2003 | Reuters

[knighthawk]

BERLIN: Germans began voting on Sunday in two state elections, with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats widely expected to suffer crushing defeats for their handling of the stagnant economy.

Opinion polls indicated his SPD would lose power in Lower Saxony, Schroeder's home state, and fail to oust the conservative-led government in the central state of Hesse, which includes the financial capital Frankfurt.

Polling booths opened at 8 am (0700 GMT) and are set to close 10 hours later when first exit polls will be broadcast.

Ten million people are eligible to vote in the two states, in the first test of public sentiment since last September's general election.

Schroeder's popularity has plummeted since he was re-elected on a wave of support for his anti-war stance on Iraq and his strong handling of devastating summer floods.

He has tried again to tap anti-war sentiment, ruling out a German "Yes" to war in any UN Security Council vote.

But polls show his Iraq policy has not eclipsed concern about economic woes. Businesses and financial markets hope defeats in the two states will speed reform by strengthening the conservative opposition and persuading Berlin to become more aggressive in cutting welfare costs choking the economy.

"I'm optimistic. When the election campaigns are over, the government will put its foot on the accelerator and the opposition will cooperate," the head of the Federation of German Industry, Michael Rogowski, told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

Stock market boost?

The stock market could also benefit. "New political impetus would definitely help share prices," Hans-Joachim Koenig, fund manager at Union Investment, told Die Welt newspaper.

Rising unemployment, tax increases, near-recession and the absence of convincing reforms have pushed the SPD down 10 points to about 30 percent in opinion polls, with the conservatives close to 50 per cent.

Schroeder has ruled out resigning if the Social Democrats are routed on Sunday, but defeat would be certain to hurt his standing in the party and make it harder for him to get laws passed without backing from the Christian Democrats (CDU).

Losing Lower Saxony will make it all but impossible for the government to circumvent the CDU's majority in the Bundesrat upper house of parliament, where 16 states are represented.

Political analysts say defeat could silence the SPD's left wing, which has opposed moves by Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement to deregulate the labour market.

Losses could also underline the perception that, without radical cuts to the cost-laden social system that has made jobs too expensive for many companies, the government would fail to cut unemployment and lose power in the next general election.

January unemployment data due on Wednesday are expected to show a rise to 4.55 million on an unadjusted basis, the highest level for that month in five years.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Maelstrom]

Socialism in action.

[FreedomPoster]

I have a German tennis buddy who lives here in the States, just returned from Dusseldorf.

His comment the other night re Iraq:

"I hope the Americans go to the UN for a second resolution on Iraq - and then attack while the UN is dithering and Saddam thinks he is safe."

Many Germans are with us on this. They need a FreiRepublik.de to help them overcome their lamestream media, too.

[Guillermo]

Funny.

I have a close German friend too...he's constantly apologizing for Schroeder's behavior.

[JennysCool]

Couldn't happen to a nicer Chancellor.

[Michael81Dus]

Nice to see that still many Americans have good connections to my fatherland. ;-)
And most of the FReepers having been to Germany at least have heard of my hometown Düsseldorf. That brings a smile to my face - and when I see the losers faces this evening, the smile will change to a loud laugh! Schröder and the SPD deserve a heavy setback.

But I fear that it´ll be closer than expected, although my party (CDU) will win both elections.

[A. Pole]

Many Germans are with us on this. They need a FreiRepublik.de to help them overcome their lamestream media, too.

Just remember that majority of Germans are strongly against this war. The very reason why Schroeder managed to stay in power is that he adopted (unwillingly) anti-war platform. The degree of his stringency is the measure of public pressure. Otherwise he would support US in a second.

Germans are deeply scarred by their militarism of last two World Wars and their former pride and lust for power over the world. I suspect that they project their feeling of guilt and suppressed arrogance on the America, imagining that Americans are repeating German errors from the past.

I am not sure if overcoming German inhibitions would be a good thing.

[FreedomPoster]

Good point. Not surprising to see this observation from someone with a FR handle like yours. ;-)

The Poles are a people unfortunate in occupying a piece of territory with no defensible natural borders, located smack in the middle of a major historical East-West invasion path. :-(

[Michael81Dus]

Nearly correct, but you´ve to admit that Schröder was reelected because of the floodings and the anti-war-sentiments. His reaction on the floodings in the Eastern states brought him much lost sympathy by the East Germans back!

And, the public pressure in Germany is IRRELEVANT! All that matters is his coalition with the Greens. It´s tradition in Germany that nearly all important decisions are made against a majority (Euro, Pershing II, rearmament, joining NATO, etc). Chancellors usually don´t care what the people say - but it´s a contribution to the Greens.

[DoctorMichael]

I was in Berlin {business} and them in Celle (outside of Hannover) {pleasure} at the beginning of December.

[Michael81Dus]

Hope you enjoyed your visit to Berlin. I´m fascinated of the New Berlin - a mix of modern architecture and historical buildings. Norman Foster has build a great dome on the parliament, I think we now have a nice capital.

[monocle]

I had spent some time in Dusseldorf on business as well as in Paris. My experiences could not have been more different. The Germans were pleasant and trustworthy whereas the French were rude and treacherous. The Germans were tough negotiators, but once you had an agreement you could bank on it. The French, on the other hand, were deceptive negotiators and would immediately work to undermine any agreement.

[A. Pole]

And, the public pressure in Germany is IRRELEVANT!

I am not sure if you mean that public pressure in Germany SHOULD be irrelevant? Are you saying that it is more important to make wars than to preserve German democracy? You guys send chills down my spine.

[Michael81Dus]

Sounds as if you had negotiations about the EU treaties?!
LOL I´m glad that you made positive experiences here. Maybe US/German relationship isn´t completely destroyed?
On the level of the head of states, it probably is. On lower levels (departments, federal authorities, intelligences), I got the impression that boths sides can work together pretty good.

[Michael81Dus]

LOL No, I´m sorry, I´ve probably expressed my thoughts misunderstandable. The public opinion is irrelevant for the decisions of our governments. Though, that doesn´t mean that we´re abolishing democracy, no. But our governments did never look at polls what they should do or not. In fact, it´s my opinion that we should go to war against Iraq to preserve democracy in the western world (no western world, no democracy there, you see?). There´s no contradiction for me.

[A. Pole]

In fact, it´s my opinion that we should go to war against Iraq to preserve democracy in the western world (no western world, no democracy there, you see?).

How the overthrow of secularist regime in Iraq will help Western democracy?

Probably it will please Islamists who were behind WTC bombings since BAATH is not their friend and it will give the munition for their propaganda.

[Michael81Dus]

The regime in Baghdad is developing nuclear weapons and is suspected to possess biological and chemical weapons. They´re not allowed to possess them, they´re not allowed to develop them, according to UN resolution 1441. The dictator of Iraq has once proven that he will use weapons of mass destruction against his enemies (Iran and Kurds), and the governments of several nations in Europe and North America strongly believe, that he will do so again. The next target can be LA, who knows?

Saddam Hussein is a threat to the western world. By tackling him down, the western democracies will become safier. That´s why I support the plan to invade Iraq. I pray to God that the strikes will be successful and that the number of deads on both sides will be low.

[facedown]

"I hope the Americans go to the UN for a second resolution on Iraq - and then attack while the UN is dithering and Saddam thinks he is safe."

Now there's a plan!