German federal election (September 18, 2005)

[Democratic Hawk]

Well, the governing coalition of the SPD and Greens didn't get a mandate but neither did Merkel's CDU/CSU, so what happens now:

a) A 'Grand Coalition' with the CDU/CSU and SPD
b) A CDU/CSU and FDP minority government
c) A Left Coalition majority government of the SPD, Greens and Left Party

It's no victory for either Schroeder or Merkel come to think of it (both parties have lost seats along with the Greens); while the combined Left vote trumps the Right vote

It would seem that disaffected SPD voters have gone to the Left Party

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Have they not sorted anything out yet?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Is a rotating 'Chancellorship' between the CDU/CSU and SPD, or a further general election, increasingly likely?

A Grand Coalition may not be a bad idea, they worked pretty well in Austria from what I can gather

Dave