tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999226129696666600.post7170815706283763791..comments2023-08-09T13:21:43.309+02:00Comments on MountEUlympus: Germany enters consensual politicsAndréhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05964083958627359931noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999226129696666600.post-51056565882595229602010-05-11T16:11:02.070+02:002010-05-11T16:11:02.070+02:00critical of posting his message with a google acco...critical of posting his message with a google account, a friend of mine preferred to send me his response by email: <br /><br /><br /><br />Hey Andre! <br /><br />The faction with the highest percentage of the vote does not necessarily provide the minister-president. This is about the strength of the faction where SPD and CDU are equal. However, they do have the first attempt to form a government and they could do so with either the Green Party or in a grand coalition. It would be quite unnecessary of the SPD to let the CDU provide the minister-president as they have other options. If there will be a grand coalition it will either be under Mrs. Kraft or with an Israeli solution where each gets half the election period as boss. The Left could only be included in a coalition, Mrs Kraft has ruled out the possibility of a minority government tolerated by the Left (which is what happened in Hessen). In a coalition, however, they could be marginalized and another option is, of course, to convince some (one) of the Left to vote along SPD lines.<br /><br />All in all I don't think that the election is quite as important as you state, most German chancellors have had to live with an opposed Bundesrat and this chamber usually votes along the lines their respective minister-presidents suggest. I don't think that Merkel would have a much easier task in convincing 'her' minister-presidents then in convincing the SPD ones. The Bundesrat factions have as their mandate to defend the interests of the Region and that is what they are doing. Merkel will just package any important legislation with some concessions to the Regions and thats that. <br /><br />Strange how all our elections turn out as such close calls lately! From my point of view the SPD can't exclude the Left forever. Sooner or later they will have to admit that loosing 5-11% at every election to what is essentially their left wing makes it impossible to confront CDU/FDP in the long run. But the again, how up to date is this left/right divide anyways...Andréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964083958627359931noreply@blogger.com