SPD abgewählt, CDU triumphiert

[sweetheart]

The conservatives have won in north rhine westphalia (German state).
The poll was 44.9 percent for the CDU (conservatives) and 37.1 for the
SPD (labour). This is a "wormsign" of something that could radically
shake up europe in the next few years... keep eyes pealed!

Die letzte rot-grüne Landesregierung ist abgewählt. In Nordrhein-Westfalen müssen die Sozialdemokraten ihr schlechtestes Ergebnis seit 50 Jahren hinnehmen. Hochrechnungen zufolge kommt die SPD auf nur noch 37,1 Prozent. Die CDU erreicht 44,9 Prozent. Düsseldorf steht vor einem Regierungswechsel.

CDU-Spitzemkandidat Jürgen Rüttgers: Starke Stimmengewinne
Großbildansicht
REUTERS
CDU-Spitzemkandidat Jürgen Rüttgers: Starke Stimmengewinne
Düsseldorf - Nach ersten Hochrechnungen von ARD und ZDF kann die Union in Düsseldorf künftig zusammen mit der FDP mit deutlicher Mehrheit regieren. Demnach muss die SPD das schlechteste Ergebnis seit 50 Jahren einstecken. Laut ARD-Hochrechnung verlieren die Sozialdemokraten rund fünf Prozentpunkte und kommen nur noch auf 37,1 Prozent (ZDF: 37,0). Noch nie haben die Sozialdemokraten in dem größten Bundesland so schlecht abgeschnitten. Die CDU legt rund neun Prozentpunkte zu und erreicht 44,9 Prozent (ZDF: 45,2). Der ARD-Hochrechnung zufolge verlieren die Grünen rund vier Prozentpunkte und kommen auf 6,1 Prozent (ZDF: 6,1) der Wählerstimmen. Die FDP kann mit 6,1 Prozent (ZDF: 6,3 Prozent) rechnen. Die sonstigen Parteien liegen bei rund 5,5 Prozent. Die neue Linkspartei WASG kam dabei auf nur rund zwei Prozent und will nun auch bei der nächsten Bundestagswahl antreten.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,357071,00.html

[da_chimperor]

1. Link in English n/t

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050522/wl_nm/germany_election_dc_2

[DrDebug]

2. This was not an election but a poll, right? n/t

[sweetheart]

3. No a state ELECTION!

Its a very big deal. This is an omen of the end of the government of
Shroeder. In the most populous state of germany, for the government to
lose (read the english article that "da_chimperor" posted)... a very
big deal at the heart of europe.

[Frederik]

4. What does this signify?

why are the Germans moving to the right? Dissatisfaction with the persistent high level of unemployment? Do they want to go further with the reforms that have been commenced by Schröder? Both parties are pro-EU constitution, right?

[sweetheart]

5. "welfare reform"

Schroeder is getting burned for taking lolly pops out of the mouths of
unemployed workers on cush benefits. Indeed its a simplification, but
it has not been popular, those welfare reforms. It is ironic that the
rightwing would come to power based on rightwing reforms by a left
center government.

[Johnyawl]

7. Schroeder's an idiot

He cut welfare and unemployment benefits at a time when German unemployement is at an all time, post-WWII high. What the hell did he expect in a state where the unemployment rate is over 12%, that all those unemployed workers were going to vote for his party?? Clinton pushed through welfare reform, but he did it when the country was on an economic roll, and unemployement was at it's lowest in decades.

There's too damn many 'leftwing' leaders who have swallowed the kool-aid that the corportists are peddling. "Lower taxes, reduce labor wages, and eliminate the social safety net, that's what we need to get the economy rolling again!" Bah, humbug!

I only hope that the left within the SPD gives Schroeder the boot, and gets their party back on track.

[Enraged_Ape]

6. Schön (Sarkasmus)

Dass ist nicht so gut. Verwenden die Deutschen Diebold?

Mein Deutsch ist sehr schlimm, aber ich verstehe der Wert von dass.

[sweetheart]

8. My german sucks

I can basically figure out who won elections and say nice things
to the in-laws... :-)

I'm sure Diebold was not involved... the German "right" CDU is more
"left" than the american democratic party (DLC version).

The horses mouth on german elections is the german media, so WTF, why
not use German... as it is an omen, and something beyond language in a
way, to see that the left, our friends in germany, are on hard times
because of electoral misjudgements.

If germany swings right, it is not good, for appearances mislead, and it
means that europe is not able to hold the torch she needs to in this
time of darkness.

[Pachamama]

12. "the German "right" CDU is more "left" that the American Democratic Party"

Your kidding right? You forgot to put the sarcasm avatar on...

I grew up in Bavaria...the CDU is not left of the American Democratic Party...not by a long shot...

[sweetheart]

15. Might it be a state difference?

In North-Rhine Westphalia, where my in-laws live, They stand for
socialized medicine, the german status quo of labour unions in corporate
management and a load of things that are too left for democrats.

I accept that they are bad news and a trojan horse for more whacko sorts
of the bush ilk, but i see little difference to DLC democrats, not
"DU" democrats! Joseph Lieberman would be right at home in the CDU.

[sweetheart]

9. link to similar thread resulting from this thread's topic (ripple effect)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1492199

[struggle4progress]

10. delete

[Pachamama]

11. Scheisse (fecal matter)...this sucks...

I grew up in Southern Germany in Bavaria...the CDU is right wing conservatives and hearing this just made my stomach turn....

Guess Germany didn't learn afterall eh?

Or did they get electronic voting in Deutschland too? :eyes:

All I can say is this is defintely a bad sign of what is taking place there....

Any German citizens on the board that can explain what the hell is going on?

[Merlin]

13. Nein Kapiche !!!

How in the hell do you reconcile this ostensibly rightward movement with these Yahoo article's assertions?:

Schroeder could also be forced to abandon plans to cut the basic corporate tax rate to 19 percent from 25 percent, a move designed to boost growth but strongly opposed by the left.

An extension of the minimum wage to all sectors of the economy and tighter controls on hedge funds are other likely outcomes.

[darkism]

14. So much for dodging the draft in Germany.

Looks like Sweden it is, then.