Germans are to have a new centre-right and liberal coalition government following elections on Sunday (27 Septemebr). But the results of the vote mean the new coalition may not be any easier for returning Chancellor Angela Merkel to manage than the outgoing government of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. "We have reached our election goal of a stable majority for a new government," said a victorious Ms Merkel on Sunday, as the results mean that her preferred coalition could be formed without having to rely on controversial "overhang" mandates - votes given to an individual rather than a party. However, the centre-right performed relatively poorly at the polls, meaning that Ms Merkel's continued reign is largely thanks to the record performance by the free-market liberals of the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Early results on Sunday evening gave the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) 33.6 percent - the poorest showing at the polls for over 60 years - while the liberals gained five percent over the last elections to secure a result of 14.6 percent.
Germans are to have a new centre-right and liberal coalition government following elections on Sunday (27 Septemebr). But the results of the vote mean the new coalition may not be any easier for returning Chancellor Angela Merkel to manage than the outgoing government of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats.
"We have reached our election goal of a stable majority for a new government," said a victorious Ms Merkel on Sunday, as the results mean that her preferred coalition could be formed without having to rely on controversial "overhang" mandates - votes given to an individual rather than a party.
However, the centre-right performed relatively poorly at the polls, meaning that Ms Merkel's continued reign is largely thanks to the record performance by the free-market liberals of the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
Early results on Sunday evening gave the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) 33.6 percent - the poorest showing at the polls for over 60 years - while the liberals gained five percent over the last elections to secure a result of 14.6 percent.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and their new partners, the Free Democrats, could reach a coalition deal by the end of October. But it may not be easy. Tax cuts and burgeoning government debt could slow down the talks. Germany's conservatives and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) want to start coalition talks as soon as possible following Sunday's election victory,and they could have a deal in place by the end of October to form a center-right coalition, leading party members say. That means Merkel may travel to the EU summit in Brussels on Oct. 29 and 30 with FDP leader Guido Westerwelle as her new foreign minister. The talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the FDP face a number of hurdles. For example, the FDP is expected to demand ac detailed review of government finances to determine the scope for the tax cuts they have been promising, and to determine whether there are any undiscovered debts risks lurking in the budget.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and their new partners, the Free Democrats, could reach a coalition deal by the end of October. But it may not be easy. Tax cuts and burgeoning government debt could slow down the talks.
Germany's conservatives and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) want to start coalition talks as soon as possible following Sunday's election victory,and they could have a deal in place by the end of October to form a center-right coalition, leading party members say.
That means Merkel may travel to the EU summit in Brussels on Oct. 29 and 30 with FDP leader Guido Westerwelle as her new foreign minister.
The talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the FDP face a number of hurdles. For example, the FDP is expected to demand ac detailed review of government finances to determine the scope for the tax cuts they have been promising, and to determine whether there are any undiscovered debts risks lurking in the budget.
Germany's Free Democrats owe their impressive election result on Sunday in part to the political weakness of Christian Democrat Angela Merkel during her first four years as chancellor, which drove voters to the FDP. Voters are hoping that a strong FDP in the government will force Merkel to become a stronger chancellor. What is the key to leadership? James Baker, now 79 years old but once the United States secretary of the treasury and later secretary of state, recently gave me his answer to the question: "To know what to do. And to do it." This second part -- the doing -- is what Angela Merkel has never delivered. She knew what needed to be done in Germany: The social security system needed to be reformed, the education system renewed and the tax system streamlined. And Germans needed to be told the truth about the shape our society is in. Unfortunately, she didn't do any of it. It was always the wrong time, in Merkel's eyes, for pushing through reforms. Immediately after the 2005 election which brought her to power, she was politically weak. Later on, she didn't want to cause trouble within the ruling "grand" coalition of her Christian Democrats with the Social Democrats. And after that, it was already too late.
Germany's Free Democrats owe their impressive election result on Sunday in part to the political weakness of Christian Democrat Angela Merkel during her first four years as chancellor, which drove voters to the FDP. Voters are hoping that a strong FDP in the government will force Merkel to become a stronger chancellor.
What is the key to leadership? James Baker, now 79 years old but once the United States secretary of the treasury and later secretary of state, recently gave me his answer to the question: "To know what to do. And to do it."
This second part -- the doing -- is what Angela Merkel has never delivered. She knew what needed to be done in Germany: The social security system needed to be reformed, the education system renewed and the tax system streamlined. And Germans needed to be told the truth about the shape our society is in.
Unfortunately, she didn't do any of it. It was always the wrong time, in Merkel's eyes, for pushing through reforms. Immediately after the 2005 election which brought her to power, she was politically weak. Later on, she didn't want to cause trouble within the ruling "grand" coalition of her Christian Democrats with the Social Democrats. And after that, it was already too late.
The SPD are the big losers in this German election. The party ruled Germany until just four years ago, then shared power in Chancellor Merkel's uneasy `grand coalition', but has now seen its share of the vote collapse. The SPD garnered just 23 per cent at the ballot box, down more than eleven points, its worst result since the Second World War. "At this bitter moment, I'm not going to evade my responsability," said party leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "But I do intend to do my best to help the SPD fight back with renewed energy. I want to participate in that rebuilding process, as leader of the opposition in the Bundestag." The debate among party members has already begun, with many shocked at the fall of a once-great political force.
The SPD are the big losers in this German election. The party ruled Germany until just four years ago, then shared power in Chancellor Merkel's uneasy `grand coalition', but has now seen its share of the vote collapse. The SPD garnered just 23 per cent at the ballot box, down more than eleven points, its worst result since the Second World War.
"At this bitter moment, I'm not going to evade my responsability," said party leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "But I do intend to do my best to help the SPD fight back with renewed energy. I want to participate in that rebuilding process, as leader of the opposition in the Bundestag."
The debate among party members has already begun, with many shocked at the fall of a once-great political force.
