Election disaster leaves Schroder facing meltdown

Article Abstract:

Voters in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, switched in large numbers to the Christian Democrats in the regional elections on Sep 12, 1999. Their rejection of the Social Democrats was a very significant blow for Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, whose position is now becoming increasingly uncertain. The Christian Democrats now have more seats than the Social Democrats in the Bundesrat, the upper chamber. The position of the Social Democrats could be further eroded in forthcoming regional elections.

Christian Democratic Union (Germany), Public opinion, Local elections, Schroder, Gerhard (German chancellor), Social Democratic Party of Germany

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Humble Kohl pleads for one more chance

Article Abstract:

The recent victory in local elections of the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian ally of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democratic Union, has given conservatives renewed optimism about the outcome of the forthcoming national election. However, the Social Democrats' candidate for the chancellorship, Gerhard Schroder, is shown by opinion polls to be ahead of Kohl. It is possible that the two parties will be forced to agree a grand coalition, but this would not include Kohl.

Elections, Germany. Bundestag

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Naked emperor greets young pretender

Article Abstract:

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to meet German Chancellor Helmut Kohl just as the latter is struggling to preserve his reputation. He has attracted extensive criticism for his willingness to go to extreme lengths to ensure that European monetary union can go ahead, and has lost credibility among ordinary Germans and the business and financial communities. The German government is now in deadlock over the budget for 1997 and 1998, and this could bring about Kohl's downfall.

Blair, Tony, Visits of state

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