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.
