In Brandenburg, popular PM Platzeck (SPD) could form a new coalition by dumping the CDU for the Left Party. The Right and the hostile part of the media rolled out anti-communism, but in Brandenburg, they were uniquely well served: not only was the leader of the local Left Party someone who openly admitted her past as Stasi informer, three more Left Party members of the regional parliament concealed a similar past (all three resigned upon exposure).
This situation was possible because Brandenburg was the sole state not requiring a check of candidates for public posts. Which is strange when considering that the previous, CDU interior minister was a well-known hardliner. At any rate, after the scandals, Brandenburg now voted for a law requiring such a check. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
A pair of portraits in taz (a leftist daily). Lötsch is characterised as a hard-working pragmatist close to citizens who avoids tying herself down to a position in ideological or leadership battles. Ernst is characterised as a rowdie and populist, his trade union past is recounted -- and they say that due to his "grumpy and occasionally authoritarian style", the West German base is actually less enthusiastic about him than some in the East. (Unnamed bad tongues in the federal parliament faction are quoted to say that he is a compromise candidate because he is not much loved in both East and West...)
East-West is one possible divide to bridge, more and less radical socialism is another. Here the development is: on one hand, Sahra Wagenknecht, the prominent Marxist ideologue sidelined by the previous leadership, will be one of the four deputies -- but a party statute rule change denying membership in party wings for the leadership will force her to vacate her top position of the Communist Platform in the party.
Again taz commentary judges the "leadership crisis ended with lightning speed" a move born out of fear of self-destruction forces. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
