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Post by marrella on Feb 11, 2004 20:50:25 GMT -5
What's the view on the other side of the Pond (particularly from our German friends ... if they're still around) with regard to Schröder stepping down as party chairman?
Is it enough to revive the SPD? Is this the beginning of Schröder's demise? Were his tough reforms starting to work? If so, will this lead to more reforms or will there be a backing away from reforms? And if the latter, what does this mean for the German economy?
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Post by gereagle on Feb 17, 2004 0:28:10 GMT -5
Ok, first I've to say I'm not neutral. The SPD is MY party for a long time, I voted for him and he's from Hanover.
Germany urgently needs reforms, that's for sure. Nothing really happend for 20 years with conserative CDU government. The party, which do these reforms of course always looks bad, since they mainly concern limitation of the social system. Many members of the SPD and many of her voters have problems with the fact, that the SPD (which has even the word 'social' in its name) does it of all. But IMHO its the one and only way. The new leader of the SPD is 100% loyal to Schröder and, very important, has good (better) contact to the basis of the SPD (simple members). Schröder did not make much points during the last years (one of course was his behavior during the Iraque conflict) and I fear he wont win the next elections in 2006. The splitting of potency wont be the reason for it.
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Post by marrella on Feb 18, 2004 19:37:03 GMT -5
Thanks for posting, Gereagle. I realize 2006 is far off and anything can happen in the interim, but do you think that Schroder will be able to continue bringing about reforms? Or are the reforms, however much needed, just too hard for everyone to accept at this time?
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Post by gereagle on Feb 24, 2004 0:21:40 GMT -5
Marrella, yes I think he'll continue. There will be no other way anyways - for the country and for him. His only chance is to bring it to a good end. Everybody knows reforms are needed, that's not the question, but you know, if you put money away from someone (and it's always a question of money), someone crys as loud as he can.
Maybe you can blame Schröder for there is no clear line in his ideas. Partially even chaotic. But he always must show consideration for 1. the opposition (he cannot get through the reforms without the opposition, cause he needs for main reforms the agreement of the Bundesrat, in which opposition has majority at present), 2. for his coalition partner 'Die Grünen' (former environmental party) and last but not least 3. for his own party.
You can see it's not so easy for him. But one MUST do it.
Naa, he cannot win the elections in 2006. If you can believe demoscopy, he has about 30% at present - the worst value ever. Too easy situation for the opposition. They only need to have a big mouth, but don't have to show real alternatives.
BTW: I forgot to mention in the posting above, that the splitting of potency was very surprisingly for everyone. There wasn't pressure for it from any side, neither from his party, nor from public, nor from press. It was his (their) own decision.
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Post by DanCan on Feb 24, 2004 7:03:34 GMT -5
So who do you think will be CDU/CSU's next candidate? Edmund Stoiber will not get another shot, will he? And where does the FDP stand in all this?
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Post by gereagle on Feb 26, 2004 13:40:42 GMT -5
DanCan, good question. Difficult to say. On one hand I hope Stoiber will be the candidate. Never ever a candidate of CSU (local party of Bayern) has won, hehe. On the other hand I hope, he wont, cause in this special situation everyone probably would win against Schröder and I don't want to be represented by a guy from Bayern. You must know our special friends dressed up with leather shorts usual differ a bit from the rest of Germany. What again was the escalation of 'conserative'? But who is the alternative to Stoiber? Angela Merkel?? Oh no, the don't has any charisma. Ok, I'm not saying the CDU don't has a good man for this job - but Angela Merkel?? No No No !!! ...and the FDP? They are meanwhile nominal members only. They will have troubles to get 5% at all. At present they of course stick to the CDU/CSU - but this can change soon. They always go with the government party, if they only can participate in government. Ok ok, I know, this is a very biased and less factual statement, but I'm really frustrated about the political situation in Ger at present. Sorry!
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Post by gereagle on Feb 26, 2004 14:03:27 GMT -5
BTW: Where the heck did marrella get this 'ö' for Schröder from? Did she steal even two of balder's small degree circles therefore this time, or what?
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Post by marrella on Feb 26, 2004 20:00:12 GMT -5
No, Herr Gereagle ... I did not steal from Balder ... but should have because it would have been faster. I simply typed Schröder name (sans the umlaut) into a search engine, looked for a German newspaper, copied and pasted it into my message. Impressive, huh?
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