Here are the seats as projected by ARD and ZDF, about 30 minutes ago:
ARD
SPD 212 CDU 219 GRE 51 FDP 64 LEF 52
ZDF
SPD 210 CDU 219 GRE 51 FDP 65 LEF 53
CDU/FDP are 16 or 15 seats short of absolute majority (299). It is probable that CDU wins more overhang mandates than SPD, but it is practically impossible that such big a gap can be closed by that.
Right now, almost everything is being put on the table:
CDU+SPD SPD+FDP+Greens CDU+FDP+Greens (!)
Formally, Merkel has the right to start with coalition building. But Schröder will, simultaneously, talk with the FDP, no matter what Westerwelle said.
A grand coalition would make Schröder a pensioner, a traffic lights coalition would cost Westerwelle's head.
The next days will be very interesting. Merkel will have a hard time, and we will have to see if she survives this defeat (I know CDU has gained the most votes, but still: it's a defeat). For her internal enemies are strong and numerous.
I think that should read 'More support for the white common man.' Evil minorities brought to Germany by the evil capitalists to take jobs away from good German family father are a different story.
Stoiber probably didn´t want her to succeed where he failed in 2002. Koch is probably looking forward to the next federal election.
The problem with Merkel and the (West German) CDU is that she didn´t advance through the ranks from the bottom. If you do that, you´ll have contacts, friends, in short a network of people supporting you. As we say in German, a "Hausmacht".
