HEAVY SETBACK FOR SCHRÖDER

[Michael81Dus]

Schröders SPD party lost two elections in German major states of Hesse and (Schröders home state) Lower Saxony. The conservative CDU party now has a comfortable majority with 41 seats of 69 in the German Federal Council - that means that Schröder cannot pass important laws without the approval of the oppositional CDU/CSU.

The SPD lost up to 15% compared to the last elections and giving the CDU nearly absolute majority in both states. The result is also interesting because Schröder made these elections with an anti-war-campaign again.

This is the first answer of the voters after September elections and has shown that the German people does not approve Schröders government. "This is the end of the SPD-Green government in Berlin!" Liberals chairman Westerwelle announced.

BTW: the representative Federal President will be a CDU member next year, too.

[Michael81Dus]

Can that lead to a breach of the government coalition of SPD and Greens?

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Gee,does that mean that the German people are still salvagable?

[Michael81Dus]

I hope so! :-))

[Humidston]

Excellent news, my friend! Spread the word and keep up the good fight. We have work to do!

[Michael81Dus]

Now, I´d be happy if Schröder said YES to a war against Iraq - we´re isolated in the world! Germany never wanted to become isolated in the world!!

[Michael81Dus]

BERLIN, Germany (CNN)-- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats have suffered crushing defeats in two state elections.

Voters used Sunday's poll to vent their anger at high unemployment, tax hikes and near-recession.

Not even Schroeder's opposition to a possible Iraq war, which is popular at home, was enough to offset public disgruntlement over the economy four months after he was re-elected.

The SPD suffered its worst results since 1945 in Schroeder's home state of Lower Saxony and in Hesse, television projections showed after polling booths closed at 6 p.m. (1700 GMT).

Ten million people were eligible to vote in the two states, the first test of sentiment since the September ballot.

Conservative Bavarian state premier Edmund Stoiber, who was narrowly beaten by Schroeder in the September general election, said: "This is a vote of no confidence in Schroeder and his government.

"We're going to use this result to enforce a change in German politics."

Lower Saxony governor Sigmar Gabriel, conceding defeat for the Social Democrats, told the Associated Press: "It's not an easy night. We've lost the election to the Christian Democrats with very, very bad results."

Education Minister Edelgard Bulmahn said: "People are very worried about the economic situation.

"We take this signal of dissatisfaction very seriously."

One projection by the Infratest polling institute on ARD television showed the Christian Democrats (CDU) surged to 48.3 percent in Lower Saxony from 35.9 percent in the last election in 1998, with the SPD crashing 15 points to 33.0 percent.

In the central state of Hesse, the CDU held on to power with an increased majority, scoring an absolute majority of 50.1 percent, up from 43.4 percent in the last election in 1999.

The SPD plunged to 27.7 percent from 39.4 percent, the poll showed.

The double defeat for the Social Democrats could increase pressure from the conservative opposition and inside Schroeder's party for bolder economic reforms, such as loosening the tightly regulated labour market and reducing social-welfare benefits.

Meanwhile, jubilant conservatives celebrated their victory.

"The poor picture of the governing coalition in Berlin played a role," Christian Democratic lawmaker Friedbert Pflueger said.

"It's a great day but also a large responsibility. Many voted for us for the first time."

[Chi-townChief]

German-American bump

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Great news! Congratulations! God bless these election returns and the German people's rejection of comrade Schroeder!!!

[Doug Loss]

I'm not familiar enough with the German constitution--Can the CDU now bring a vote of no-confidence in the Parliament and force new national elections?

[Michael81Dus]

They can bring in a motion of no-confidence vote in the parliament - but we need at least some of the Socialists or Greens votes to get new elections. Nevertheless, the coaliton may break!

[SamAdams76]

Dieses ist gute Nachrichten!

[daniela]

Schroeder won't say "yes" to the war.Unfortunatly.

[Michael81Dus]

Analysts call the results a HISTORICAL VICTORY for the conservative CDU. They say it´s a "vote of distrust" for Schröder himself. Peoples were majorly influenced by his federal government thinking that they made a very bad policy.

[Michael81Dus]

Well, though it´s a great sign for our allied partners that many people here do not back the Federal government!

[Methos]

Leave it up to the state of Hesse to do the right thing! I was stationed in Budingen in the early 80's and found the Germans there were very conservative,and thanked us(Americans) for being there.Not all of them are of the mindset of Shroeder,thank God.

[dts32041]

This doesn't mean a thing.

There are no conservatives in FRG, as they will be branded Nazi's.

It is kind of like the difference between pubbies and rats here in the US, one is for big government and stealing all your money, the other is for not so big government and not stealing all of your money right away.

Germans are germans, and no matter what they believe they will take it to excess.

[Michael81Dus]

Yes, I´m relieved too. :-)

[angkor]

Hah. In Germany, Schröder is being criticized for "going it alone" against America.

[Michael81Dus]

"There are noc conservatives in FRG" I am a conservative living in Germany. I´m not branded as a Nazi. Yes, we´re for "not so big government and not stealing all of your money" - and that were a huge progess here, if we could reach that aim.

[Michael81Dus]

Absolutely right. We feel isolated - left alone with France. German governments never have been isolated since WWII - and now that! Damned Schröder.