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Schroder jumps....

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  • 02-07-2005 1:22pm
    #1
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭


    They do things differently in Germany, imagine a Prime Minister in most countries deliberatly pressing the nuclear button knowing in thier heart they're giving up on power.

    from Eu Observer
    EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The German lower house voted no confidence in chancellor Gerhard Schroder on Friday (1 July), paving the way for a leadership run-off with opposition leader Angela Merkel in autumn.

    German president Horst Kohler now has 21 days to decide whether to call general elections by September 2005 or to keep the originally-planned date of September 2006.

    The no confidence vote, which was carried by 296 members against 151 with 148 abstentions, stems from Mr Schroder's Social Democratic Party (SPD) getting drubbed in May regional polls and the country's weak economy.

    But the move also represents the chancellor taking a bullet for the SPD - Mrs Merkel is widely expected to win a September election, but the SPD might hold on to more seats this autumn than if it waited until 2006.

    _41255101_german_gra203.gif

    Quick Guide to the Next Chancellor

    Mike.


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    #2
    Sand
    Registered Users Posts: 12,580 ✭✭✭✭Sand


    I think Schroeder had to do it to stop the SDP collapsing in on itself. I dont rate him at all really, but Ive got to give him some credit for trying somewhat to reform the German welfare state. Unfortunately, even the modest reform he was able to get through were too much for voters who want politicians to tell them what they want to hear, not what they need. The SDP under Schroeder has done a U turn and tried to rescue itself with some crazed rantings about businessmen being locusts and enemies of the people and similar garbage. Pathetic lack of leadership really.

    With Oskar Lafontaine and his new socialist/anti-foreigner party starting up and engaging in Nazi era rhetoric, the SDP will either lose the election or face its members deserting for the extremists. Schroeder took the least worst option for the future of his party, and possibly the country, and fell on his sword. He deserves some credit for that I guess.


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