That (Reich)stag is hung like a horse!
Too broad?
On the subject of Germany's hung parliament, I found this commentary from the Times (of London) to be the most poignant. This despite that paper's normal coverage of the election from a rabidly Murdochite anti-social democracy stance. Anyway:
On the spot: What Schröder is up to
By Times Online
Gerhard Schröder was publicly jubilant despite his party's defeat at the polls in the German election last night. Roger Boyes, correspondent for The Times in Berlin, explains the wily political operator's plot to turn defeat into victory.
"By claiming victory today, Gerhard Schröder is bluffing - he's basically trying to disorientate Frau Merkel. His ambition is to reach a position where there is a grand coalition ,with himself as Chancellor, despite his party's second place. He is playing a typically complex tactical game to get there.
"When a party obtains a majority in an election in Germany, as the CDU has done, it has two immediate briefs: it must appoint a Chancellor and it must form a stable government.
"Herr Schröder believes that Frau Merkel is not able to form a stable government unless it is in a grand coalition with his SPD. He is saying that once she has been turned down by the Greens and the Liberals she will come to him, and he will not play ball.
"He believes that Frau Merkel will eventually be forced to ask him to join her, at which point he will say 'no'. Frau Merkel will then have to tell the President that she has failed to form a government, and the President will turn to Herr Schröder and ask him to try.
"Herr Schröder believes that he can argue that he is the people's choice, whatever the arithmetic may say.
"It is very much in his interests to have protracted negotiations as he remains Chancellor with all of the trappings and status that entails, while day-by-day Frau Merkel's standing will diminish.
"Ultimately, Herr Schröder thinks that she will be forced to accept a grand coalition with him as Chancellor, or she will be forced to go.
"He's playing a tactical game and he thinks he will still emerge as the ruler of Germany."
On the subject of Germany's hung parliament, I found this commentary from the Times (of London) to be the most poignant. This despite that paper's normal coverage of the election from a rabidly Murdochite anti-social democracy stance. Anyway:
On the spot: What Schröder is up to
By Times Online
Gerhard Schröder was publicly jubilant despite his party's defeat at the polls in the German election last night. Roger Boyes, correspondent for The Times in Berlin, explains the wily political operator's plot to turn defeat into victory.
"By claiming victory today, Gerhard Schröder is bluffing - he's basically trying to disorientate Frau Merkel. His ambition is to reach a position where there is a grand coalition ,with himself as Chancellor, despite his party's second place. He is playing a typically complex tactical game to get there.
"When a party obtains a majority in an election in Germany, as the CDU has done, it has two immediate briefs: it must appoint a Chancellor and it must form a stable government.
"Herr Schröder believes that Frau Merkel is not able to form a stable government unless it is in a grand coalition with his SPD. He is saying that once she has been turned down by the Greens and the Liberals she will come to him, and he will not play ball.
"He believes that Frau Merkel will eventually be forced to ask him to join her, at which point he will say 'no'. Frau Merkel will then have to tell the President that she has failed to form a government, and the President will turn to Herr Schröder and ask him to try.
"Herr Schröder believes that he can argue that he is the people's choice, whatever the arithmetic may say.
"It is very much in his interests to have protracted negotiations as he remains Chancellor with all of the trappings and status that entails, while day-by-day Frau Merkel's standing will diminish.
"Ultimately, Herr Schröder thinks that she will be forced to accept a grand coalition with him as Chancellor, or she will be forced to go.
"He's playing a tactical game and he thinks he will still emerge as the ruler of Germany."
posted by Matthew at 3:53 PM
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