Wulff thrown to the wolves | 42 comments (41 topical, 1 editorial, 0 hidden)

That has a thirties sound, doesn't it?

Nowadays it is more prosaic: the state goverment in the Saar state, until now a CDU-FDP-green coalition (black-yellow.green or Jamaica) has failed. Mostly because of the disarray of the FDP in the saar.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,807597,00.html

Haven't found any english language link yet.

by IM on Fri Jan 6th, 2012 at 11:23:57 AM EST

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

As for the Saarland Greens: now is the time to cut all the ugly ties with the FDP...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Fri Jan 6th, 2012 at 11:52:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

And this will change the numbers in the electoral group that elects a new federal president. This might be the game-changer.

With this, CDU offers to switch the coalition in Berlin to one with SPD. Steinbrück can become President, and some posts will be available for Steinbrück and Gabriel 8-)

Sounds like a plan 8-)

Now what ?

by pi (etrib@opsec.eu) on Sat Jan 7th, 2012 at 08:23:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 1)

No. The majorities in the Bundesversammlung remain the same until Saarland elects a new parliament.

by Katrin on Sat Jan 7th, 2012 at 09:06:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

And as we know now, there willl be a new government but not a new election.

by IM on Sat Jan 7th, 2012 at 02:09:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

But Saarland state SPD boss Heiko Maas insists that the option of new elections is not yet off (probably a transparent pressure tactic for the upcoming talks).

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sat Jan 7th, 2012 at 06:26:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 1)

Right now, the discussion about Wulff leads to SPD infighting: Gabriel fights with Nahles on whether SPD asks for new federal elections (!)

Gabriel suggests a joint SPD/CDU/FDP search so that no new elections have to take place. Nahles asks for elections if Wulff steps down.

You can't make this stuff up. SPD desintegrates over Wulff.

Now what ?

by pi (etrib@opsec.eu) on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 12:52:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (4.00 / 2)

Gabriel suggests a joint SPD/CDU/FDP search

"I wanna be junior partner in Merkel's next Grand Coalition!"

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 01:39:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

I see just a superficial offer of bipartisanship, to look good in the event of an resignation.

The greens offer the same. I don't really think that is a signal towards a black.green coalition.

by IM on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 01:45:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

The Greens suggested a joint candidate of "the government and the opposition" (and Roth pointed again at Gauck, though after his missives on Sarrazin and the Occupy movement she shouldn't have). Gabriel's leaving out the Greens does have a message.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 01:57:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

Nonsense. He is suggesting exactly the same.

And strictly speaking Roth didn't mentioned the SPD either. Just implied them.

(His leaving out the left is a message, but that is another story)

by IM on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 02:01:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (4.00 / 2)

It's a bit simpler: this is a very grand coalition against Die Linke. It's not a new game either. Blackredgreenyellow will rescue the republic and Die Linke is in opposition without making sense and displaying responsibility.

I note that today the focus is on Wuff's successor, not if he is resigning or not. I assume he will resign tomorrow (or else the media will unpack a nuclear bomb, the story of Bettina Wulff's life for instance).

by Katrin on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 02:04:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

So now after Greece and Italy, Germany is to get a national unity government?

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 05:42:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (4.00 / 3)

In a way we already have one. We have a government that doesn't govern (only Merkel does) and an opposition that doesn't oppose. A colourless mass of politicians, and if one of them becomes remarkable, it's by corruption or stupidity.

by Katrin on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 06:41:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

Meanwhile, the CDU and Wulff seem to be set to try to keep Wulff in power. Meanwhile, Bild's Sunday issue continues the attacks, this time with an alleged leak of Wulff's words to aides during a New Year's Day meeting (he reportedly told that in one year, everything will be forgotten) and a poll. Worse yet for the SPD, Nahles demanded new elections in an interview with Bild am Sonntag, too...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 01:52:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

So the bild is attacking a christian democratic president and that is bad news for the SPD?

What's next, this is good news for McCain?

by IM on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 01:57:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

What I mean is that Nahles made herself a mere weapon of Bild.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 02:00:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

I think she just overstepped in trying to exploit an opportunity.

by IM on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 02:08:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (none / 0)

Why on earth would there have to be new elections over this!?

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 05:40:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Crisis on the Saar! (4.00 / 2)

Nahles basically said that the resignation of two successive Federal Presidents chosen by Merkel makes this a Merkel scandal. (Since then, she signalled loyalty to Gabriel and the party line.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Sun Jan 8th, 2012 at 06:10:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wulff thrown to the wolves | 42 comments (41 topical, 1 editorial, 0 hidden)

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