[Michael81Dus]

Correct. I don´t fear serious problems with our neighbours. We´ve always supported the Eastern countries like Poland, Czech Rep., Hungary or the Baltic states.

The domestic economy is really bad, and I don´t think that the SPD can give us solutions -accepted by: the Greens, the labor unions (strong in the SPD) AND the CDU.
That´s why the coalition may break within one year from now.

Unemployment is at 4.55 million - the highest number since 6 years and nearly a record after WWII.

[RobbyS]

How much unemployment in the former West Germany? How much in the former DDR? I spent much time in the Kaiserslautern area which, unlke Hesse, has always benefitted economically from the American presence. I know that historically there is nothing that worries the individual German more than the threat of high unemployment.