I'm curious as to whether the Left Party is any closer to being seen as a viable coalition partner or are they still as untouchable? Would a SPD-Green-Left coalition be possible?
By the way, hesk, what do you think would be less bad: a Grand Coalition or CDU/CSU/FDP? (On the short-term, on the long-term?) What difference would it make to Europe? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The Left Party wants to achieve a "different intellectual climate" in Germany, said Gysi at the introduction of the election manifesto. The other partys are all dominated by the neo-liberal zeitgeist and assume that by reducing taxes for corperations and high earners the economy would be stimulated, said Gysi. This is a dead end. [...] Gysi ruled out a coalition with the SPD in the "foreseeable future." "We cannot tolerate a neo-liberal policy", said the top candiate. This applies both to the policies of the CDU candidate Angela Merkel and of chancellor Schröder (SPD). "But we have not lost the hope, that the Social Democrats will find back to their actual values. But this won't happen over night." Things might be different in 2009.
[...]
Gysi ruled out a coalition with the SPD in the "foreseeable future." "We cannot tolerate a neo-liberal policy", said the top candiate. This applies both to the policies of the CDU candidate Angela Merkel and of chancellor Schröder (SPD). "But we have not lost the hope, that the Social Democrats will find back to their actual values. But this won't happen over night." Things might be different in 2009.
BTW, in the same article they write that Gysi and Lafontaine have said that if the rich citizens would pay as much taxes as they pay in the US, Germany would have 50 billion Euro more each year. Is this for real? After Bush's tax cuts?
As to what's better, CDP+FDP or grand coalition, I don't know, I don't like either very much.
