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Germany poised for national election battle
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Germany poised for national election battle
Germany yesterday looked set for early elections after Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called for a national vote in the autumn following a crushing regional poll defeat. Schroeder announced his gamble two hours after voters in the large regional state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) kicked his Social Democrats (SPD) out of government after 39 years.
“SPD calls to final battle,” said top-selling newspaper Bild yesterday.“The chancellor is taking a big risk. But this taking the bull by the horns will probably spare the nation 18 months of political paralysis.” In a survey conducted by ARD television on Sunday night, 46 percent of respondents said they would vote for the conservative Christian Democrates (CDU) and 29 percent for the SPD.
The election call carries enormous risks for Schroeder, who has seen his personal ratings plunge as unemployment has surged to post-war highs. Voters appeared to be punishing him for the fact that his painful welfare cutbacks have produced little or no visible gain. Two years ago, Schroeder unveiled a package of labour market reforms known as “Agenda 2010” that sparked protests across the country. They include cuts in jobless benefits and stricter rules on means-testing for the long-term unemployed.
Schroeder hopes to convince Germans that the plans of the conservatives, who have largely supported his reforms, will be even more painful.
<B>Noah BARKIN</B>
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