Germany's Al Gore
It was so close, wasn't it? I know, the press said Angela Merkel and her Christian Democrat Union would sweep Gerhard Shroeder's Social Democrat Party out of office but much like in America, the Old Media got it wrong. And much like the election of 2000 in America pitted between George W. Bush and Albert Gore Jr., the German election in which the incumbent had all the advantages is too close to call. Or is it?
Not really, when we consider Angela Merkel and her Party beat out Shroeder's party by just a mere 3 seats in the Bundestag clearly the Chancellory belongs to Ms. Merkel. But I know, with the Left, power is difficult to give up even when it is won fair and square by your opponents.
From the Christian Science Monitor:
Europe's largest economy is momentarily rudderless as both incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his challenger Angela Merkel claimed Germany's top office the morning after one of the biggest election surprises in the country's recent history.
The chancellor, emboldened by the SPD's strong showing in the election's final spurt, declared that he planned to stay on as chancellor, whether at the head of a so-called grand coalition with the CDU/CSU or in another party constellation.
The confusion over who will take over at the helm of Europe's economic motor, has unsettled financial markets and business leaders and surprised European politicians. The German capital was abuzz Monday with the political fallout of a tight race which saw the pro-business Free Democrats claim a surprising 9.9 percent share of the vote, followed tightly by the Left Party, their polar opposites in the reform discussion. The Green Party finished a disappointing fifth.
My oh my, I believe the real story here is how disaffected the Germans are with the so called "Green" Party which really was very communistic in their political approach to things. As a coalition member of Shroeder's Social Democrats their influence might explain why the Chancellor was so anti-American. Ooops...So sorry, lets keep it in the realm of economics, shall we?
After seven years of rule, voters had had enough of Schröder's coalition with the Green Party, the so-called red-green government. The government's popularity has been at rock bottom after welfare, health, and labor market reforms it introduced in 2003 cut significant benefits but failed to create jobs for the more than 4.7 million out of work.
"It's a very mixed message from the voters," says Uwe Andersen, political scientist at Ruhr University. "The majority of the population is still not ready to go through with a harder reform course. On the other hand, they know that things can't go any further with the red-green coalition government."
In the coming week, Merkel, whose party still won the largest share of the vote at 35.2 percent, will begin meeting with the Greens and Schröder's SPD to decide how to proceed. The likely coalition outcome remains a so-called grand coalition, which would put the SPD and the CDU together and Merkel as Germany's next chancellor.
But wait one moment! Remember Al Gore? Gosh darn it! Shroeder should demand a recount!
But Schröder doesn't see it that way. The Chancellor appeared visibly smug during a television talk show Sunday night, and his party pointed out that the CDU only has more votes than the SPD if the performance of its sister party, Bavaria's CSU is counted. Such logic would indicate that Schröder, not Merkel, should stay on as Chancellor.
Where's a Florida Supreme Court when you need one?
"I think the Germans have responded in a way that will certainly not allow a totally liberal [economic] model to be put in place," French Defense Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie told Europe1 radio. And it's unclear how much power Merkel will wield after leading her party to one of its worst federal electoral showings in German postwar history. Political analyst Mathias Micus said the confusion surrounding who will govern the country plays perfectly into the hands of Schröder.
"Times like this need a power player like Schröder," said Mr. Micus, at the University of Mainz. "He is someone who knows how to play with all his cards, who isn't held up by party dogma and who is Machiavellian."
Ah yes, a Left-winger through and through. How delicious.
Not really, when we consider Angela Merkel and her Party beat out Shroeder's party by just a mere 3 seats in the Bundestag clearly the Chancellory belongs to Ms. Merkel. But I know, with the Left, power is difficult to give up even when it is won fair and square by your opponents.
From the Christian Science Monitor:
Europe's largest economy is momentarily rudderless as both incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his challenger Angela Merkel claimed Germany's top office the morning after one of the biggest election surprises in the country's recent history.
The chancellor, emboldened by the SPD's strong showing in the election's final spurt, declared that he planned to stay on as chancellor, whether at the head of a so-called grand coalition with the CDU/CSU or in another party constellation.
The confusion over who will take over at the helm of Europe's economic motor, has unsettled financial markets and business leaders and surprised European politicians. The German capital was abuzz Monday with the political fallout of a tight race which saw the pro-business Free Democrats claim a surprising 9.9 percent share of the vote, followed tightly by the Left Party, their polar opposites in the reform discussion. The Green Party finished a disappointing fifth.
My oh my, I believe the real story here is how disaffected the Germans are with the so called "Green" Party which really was very communistic in their political approach to things. As a coalition member of Shroeder's Social Democrats their influence might explain why the Chancellor was so anti-American. Ooops...So sorry, lets keep it in the realm of economics, shall we?
After seven years of rule, voters had had enough of Schröder's coalition with the Green Party, the so-called red-green government. The government's popularity has been at rock bottom after welfare, health, and labor market reforms it introduced in 2003 cut significant benefits but failed to create jobs for the more than 4.7 million out of work.
"It's a very mixed message from the voters," says Uwe Andersen, political scientist at Ruhr University. "The majority of the population is still not ready to go through with a harder reform course. On the other hand, they know that things can't go any further with the red-green coalition government."
In the coming week, Merkel, whose party still won the largest share of the vote at 35.2 percent, will begin meeting with the Greens and Schröder's SPD to decide how to proceed. The likely coalition outcome remains a so-called grand coalition, which would put the SPD and the CDU together and Merkel as Germany's next chancellor.
But wait one moment! Remember Al Gore? Gosh darn it! Shroeder should demand a recount!
But Schröder doesn't see it that way. The Chancellor appeared visibly smug during a television talk show Sunday night, and his party pointed out that the CDU only has more votes than the SPD if the performance of its sister party, Bavaria's CSU is counted. Such logic would indicate that Schröder, not Merkel, should stay on as Chancellor.
Where's a Florida Supreme Court when you need one?
"I think the Germans have responded in a way that will certainly not allow a totally liberal [economic] model to be put in place," French Defense Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie told Europe1 radio. And it's unclear how much power Merkel will wield after leading her party to one of its worst federal electoral showings in German postwar history. Political analyst Mathias Micus said the confusion surrounding who will govern the country plays perfectly into the hands of Schröder.
"Times like this need a power player like Schröder," said Mr. Micus, at the University of Mainz. "He is someone who knows how to play with all his cards, who isn't held up by party dogma and who is Machiavellian."
Ah yes, a Left-winger through and through. How delicious.
posted by Bruce R. McConnell | 9:12 PM
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