More bad news for German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's SPD/Greens coalition:
Germany's governing red-green coalition today (Feb 20) suffered another defeat in regional elections: combined results of social democrats and the green party reached a meager 45 % in Schleswig-Holstein, a loss of 4,5 % compared to the 2000 elections.
At this time - 8.30 pm - it looks like the conservative christian democrats and the free democrats will form the new government with 35 seats, against 34 seats of social democrats, greens and the Danish minority party. All major tv channels project this result.
There might still be minor corrections as the evening progresses - but there will definitely be no longer a majority red-green government in Schleswig-Holstein. The last and only chance of the social democrats and the green party is to form a minority government, based on the support of the Danish party, but this looks quite unlikely.
That leaves on the regional level just one pure red-green government - in North-Rhine Westfalia.
Elections in North-Rhine Westfalia are scheduled for May 2005. A defeat in these elections would most likely mean the end of the government of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and foreign minister Joschka Fischer.
Anyone got a hanky?
I'm waiting for Germany to get on board before I buy a new Chrysler. I hope they hurry up. Our old car isn't getting any younger.
We might be witnessing the domino effect in action.
Funny thing is, they’re falling to the right, not the left.
Well like the French, the Germans are enamored with the social welfare state and being environmentally freindly but evidently they don't like the real economic costs and it's starting to show.
Then again the center right partiesm should they win, won't be able to enact any real reforms since it would entail cuts into those welfare programs. All you have to do is look to France and see the success Chirac is having trying to jump start their economy.
Anyone got a hanky?
You could go blind that way, you know...
I doubt the CDU/CSU will be able to help Germany. They have to change the complete attitude of the country. Less hand outs and they have to admit they are an immagration country.
Unfortunately Red-Green might be able to hang on after all, if they can get the party of the Danish minority to 'tolerate' them, meaning that they will vote for them in the state parliament, without foirmally joining the coalition.
Btw, the reforms of the welfare state are so unfavorably received because they are badly done, and the information released by the government is very confusing.
His party lost 3 state elecitons in a big way back in 02 after he refused to support the war on terror. The MSM lies (I know you find this hard to believe)when they say Germans are opposed to terror war. I have a relative (Herr Dr. Dr.) that is a professor in Hamburg that gives me the real news.
