European Tribune - Comments - Sunday Night Open Thread

Sunday Night Open Thread | 71 comments (71 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

A week after statewide elections, Germany's city state of Bremen looks set to get a brand-spanking new "Red-Green" coalition b/w Socialdemocrats (SPD) and Greens (d'uh :-)). The Bremen SPD just voted to discontinue the current "Grant Coalition" between SPD and conservative CDU. Sorry, nothing in English yet, but here's a German link. The significance of this development lies in firmly reestablishing Red-Green as an alternative to Angela Merkel's current Grant Coalition at the federal level. Besides, it reduces Merkel's legislative majority in the Bundesrat.

If you can't convince them, confuse them. (Harry S. Truman)

by brainwave on Sun May 20th, 2007 at 04:21:00 PM EST

Re: Red-Green Power (4.00 / 3)

What's more, new polls out show that there is a left swing in the next three states to vote. Left Party second strongest in Thüringen and double figures in Saarland, and even in Hessen, 4%. Remains to be seen if it is a temporary blip.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun May 20th, 2007 at 05:21:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Red-Green Power (4.00 / 3)

In a little more detail:

Thüringen: CDU put at 32% (rel. to 2004: -11pp!), Left Party 27% (+1pp) SPD 23% (+8.5pp), both Greens (yay!) and FDP (boo!) would break into parliament with 6% (+1.5pp, +2.4pp)
Saarland: CDU 40% (-7.5pp), SPD 26% (-4.8pp), Left Party 13% (c. +10pp), Greens and FDP 8% (+2.4pp, +2.8pp) -- still no leftist majority
Hessen: CDU 40% (-8.8pp), SPD 32% (+2.9pp), Greens 11% (+0.9pp), FDP 9% (+1.1pp), Left Party 4% (+2-3pp?); would the Left Party make it, still narrow CDU+FDP majority

The last is the most important. If only local CDU strongman Koch could be sent to hell...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun May 20th, 2007 at 05:33:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The thing is (4.00 / 2)

are we going to see SPD-Linke coalitions anytime soon? That would present the SPD with some serious identity issues. Interesting times ahead!

If you can't convince them, confuse them. (Harry S. Truman)

by brainwave on Sun May 20th, 2007 at 06:04:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The thing is (4.00 / 3)

There is still one in Berlin. I personally would have preferred Wowi to go with the greens, but hey. Question is if we'll see more, of course.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun May 20th, 2007 at 09:16:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The thing is (4.00 / 3)

Apart from Thuringia, I don't think so. But there will be a left pull on the SPD if the Left Party enters West German regional parliaments, and that is significant, I think. (I think that's the reason Bremen goes Red-Green.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon May 21st, 2007 at 01:31:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sunday Night Open Thread | 71 comments (71 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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