Merkel gives nod to Green partnership Angela Merkel, Germany's Christian Democratic chancellor, on Monday gave her approval to the creation of the first coalition of the CDU and Greens in a move that could transform the country's party-political landscape. Meanwhile, in an equally ground-breaking decision, the Social Democratic party, junior partner in Ms Merkel's "grand coalition", said it would no longer oppose all forms of co-operation with the Left party in western German states.
Angela Merkel, Germany's Christian Democratic chancellor, on Monday gave her approval to the creation of the first coalition of the CDU and Greens in a move that could transform the country's party-political landscape.
Meanwhile, in an equally ground-breaking decision, the Social Democratic party, junior partner in Ms Merkel's "grand coalition", said it would no longer oppose all forms of co-operation with the Left party in western German states.
My interpretation: the so-called "storm of protest" was the media hyperventillating about some cases of veiled criticism, and SPIEGEL still saved some of it into the headline. Amazingly, the SPD did find back to Schröder-time party discipline. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The system is: if a PM candidate gets the majority vote in the regional parliament, s/he can form a government. Since the Left Party already announced its support, just standing for election would assure a PM Ypsilanti. And the Hessen SPD was given free hand. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
This is again that curious effect of the so-called overhang mandates, a peculiarity of the German election system, which I wrote about last June when the difference reduced to 2. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
