German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder denies widespread speculation that he is about to resign in the wake of the humiliating defeat in the September 18 elections.
Government Denies Resignation Rumors (Deutsche Welle)
While Germans wait for the announcement of a new government, speculation is rising about Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's resignation. Meanwhile, the opposition believes more and more in a grand coalition.The surprising optimism following Wednesday's talks between Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's Social Democrats (SPD) and the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) led by Angela Merkel has now been followed by further speculation about how the country will find a way out of its political paralysis. The rumor mill in Berlin is churning out speculation that Schröder would rescind his claims of being chancellor for a third term.
The Berlin-based tabloid B.Z. splashed the question on its front page: "Schröder Resignation on National Holiday -- Monday Last Day?" Politicians also believed that Schröder would soon resign so that a new German leader can finally be named.
[...]
The grand coalition as the final solution to the inconclusive elections on September 18 became more and more likely after Angela Merkel and the Christian Democrats exited talks with their preferred partners, the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on Thursday. "The possibility or likelihood of a coalition with the SPD is much higher than the other constellations," Merkel told reporters. In addition, she said there was a "very high possibility" of success of creating a coalition with the Social Democrats.
Guido Westerwelle, whose FDP came out as the surprise third-strongest party with almost 10 percent of the vote, thought that result would be more than enough to accompany the conservatives into power. But he now appears to be coming to terms with the likelihood that the FDP will remain in the opposition. "It seems in all probability that we're heading for a grand coalition," he told reporters, adding that Schröder should now step aside for the good of the country.
Grand coalition is an odd outcome but has always seemed the most likely. As odd a marriage as CDU-SPD would be, it far beats cobbling together a government based on several fringe parties.
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OT, Severance? Package? For Schroder? Jawohl.
But for Dingwall? Up against the wall????
Severation? Dr. Guillotine, where are you?????
Severance package for Dingwall?
By ALEXANDER PANETTA
OTTAWA (CP) - After resigning as head of the Royal Canadian Mint amid controversy, David Dingwall is being considered for a severance package>> cnews
Posted by: maz2 at September 29, 2005 3:39 PM"...speculation is rising about Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's resignation. ..."
I love it. Just waitin' for it to happen in France. Could Canada be next perhaps? Seems like people the world over are beginning to wake up.
Posted by: John Crittenden at September 29, 2005 4:26 PM8 plus years of that abject failure, Schröder leaves Germany a political and economic basket case, yet embarasingly just over 30% still voted for a guy whose legacy of ruin eclipses even Bill Clinton's utterly pathetic one.
The British press put it best. A quote from what I think was the Quardian I found at www.bild.de, described the election results plainly as "ein unbefriedigender Wahlausgang" meaning literally "an unsatisfactory election outcome." Strong words from a foreign but correctly points out both mine and their own frustration. Surprsing isn't it when even the British prefer Germany as the leader by example in Europe and that certain percentage of German people failed to awaken and deliver. Honestly, what does it take to open some people's (idiots) eyes?
On election day I phoned my relatives in Thüringen just to see how the wind blew with them (I already knew their political leanings) and it's comforting to know their opinions reflected mine in Schwarz/Gelb shades of colours.
Posted by: Schwarze Tulpe at September 29, 2005 4:34 PMMaybe Gerhart the profiteering commie is bugging out before he can be prosecuted...or killed by the mob.....you leave a lot of skeletons in a lot of closets when you run a socialist sydicalist regime for almost a decade.
When he took office he promised to solve Germany's chronic unemployment. 8 years later it's worse than ever...hitting rates not seen since the end of WWII,,,productivity of this great bnation was virtually stagnated with socialist taxes and welfare.....the entry od East Germany drew heavily on the state's resources and they made the mistake of hiring socialists.....socialism is totally unacquainted with the productivity incentives needed to get a stagnant economy rolling....and Dreamy Gerhart was no exception.
Chock up another golden egg pissed away by a socialist regime. Frankly I think the welfare state damage is so deep in the Fatherland that nothing short of tax free production will save it.
Posted by: WL Mackenzie Redux at September 29, 2005 6:24 PMHerr Schroder ist ein sehr grosse scheiss!
Monsieur Martin est un vrai grand merde!
Monsieur Layton est un pete d'un odeur tres mauvais!
Anyone know what the above means? No prizes; just a little praise from the Sentinel.
Posted by: The Canadian Sentinel at September 29, 2005 6:44 PMHey I think it means that ol' Jacko stinks really bad. How's that? lol
Posted by: Schwarze Tulpe at September 29, 2005 7:13 PMSchwarze Tulpe let out a winner! Applause!
Posted by: The Canadian Sentinel at September 29, 2005 7:20 PMis it just me, or is this kind of situation the inherent problem with this type of parlimentary election? that the people aren't directly voting for their head of state seems absolutely absurd to me. to add insult to injury, the party you voted for may be forced to join a party that is politically opposed to your views... what the hell kind of sense does that make? it is absolutely insane!
Posted by: jimmmy at October 2, 2005 1:23 AMIt's an artifact of proportional representation (although Germany has some safeguards that mitigates it somewhat) rather than parliamentary elections, per se. First past the post/single member district systems tend to avoid this, whether in a presidential or parliamentary model.
Posted by: James Joyner at October 2, 2005 8:34 AM