Slew of German Elections Update

Lots going on in Germany at the moment.

First of all, there is still a small chance the elections will be called off. We find out Thursday.

Court to rule on whether elections can go ahead

BERLIN - Germany’s highest court will Thursday rule on whether early elections called for next month by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder can go ahead, a court spokeswoman said. The judges have reached their decision on a legal complaint brought by two members of parliament who argued Schroeder essentially rigged a vote of no confidence to get the early vote planned for September 18. Both parliamentarians argue that the Chancellor still has a slim but workable majority.

Next, things are really starting to heat up in terms of numbers. The latest poll from Tagesschau shows:

The CDU is holding steady while the SPD is making small gains. However, most interesting is that the Greens are losing ground against the FDP who’s poised to overtake them. However, the CDU and FDP still can’t create a majority coalition yet all together, the extreme left (Grüne + Linke) makes up an astounding 17%.

In other news, Spiegel’s English site has an interview with the FDP’s foreign policy expert Wolfgang Gerhardt who may end up being Foreign Minister (our Sec. of State). It’s well worth a read for those who think major changes will come about when the evil twins Schröder and Fischer get booted out. For a quick quote:

SPIEGEL: But isn’t the combination of European diplomacy and US threats the solution to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb?

Gerhardt: That will only work if this crisis diplomacy is conducted by statesmen, who would not bring up the matter during an election campaign. Schröder lacks artistry in his foreign policy. He talks a good game in public, but international diplomacy is not so easily swayed.

It’s short.Read it all.

The FDP, Chirol’s personal favorite, also chimes in with a well needed dose of realism in the Financial Times:

Germany’s liberal Free Democrats are ready to weaken the power of the influential trade unions in order to push through economic reforms were the party to enter government in next month’s election, FDP leader Guido Westerwelle said on Tuesday. “I won’t be looking for conflict, but I won’t avoid it if it’s necessary in order to create a new beginning for Germany,” he said in an interview in Berlin.

In comments likely to fuel debate over which economic reform path Germany should take after the election, he accused the trade unions of being responsible for “blocking the reduction in mass unemployment” by clinging to Germany’s rigid labour market rules.

Next, the often over the top and radical David’s Medienkritik has some good commentary and photos of Schröder’s anti-Americanism for votes technique. It’s truly shameless. The pics are up over there, but here are some quick slogans:

He Who Wants Peace Must Stand Firm
We Stand for the Courage (required) for Peace: What do the Others Stand For
For Peace: Against Blindly Following

And finally, German Chancellor and full-time appeaser Gerhard Schröder will be speaking here in Stuttgart this evening. As always, Chirol will be on the scene, camera in hand to get the low down. Unfortunately, Merkel will be visiting on the 14th of September, smack dab in the middle of my stay in Damascus.