November 2012While the federal government started new attempts for a tax reform, the CDU, CSU and FDP were already looking towards the next elections. For the CDU and the FDP the federal elections were especially important, while the CSU was nervous about getting a majority in the Bavarian state elections. This meant that the CSU was getting more assertive in the coalition talks.
"We are looking out for Bavarian interests in Berlin. This means we will defend traditional family values and work towards a strong economy."Horst Seehofer, minister president of Bavaria and leader of the CSU, after a new round of coalition talks.
“Any tax cuts are extremely irresponsible at this time.”Wolfgang Schäuble, minister of finance, giving an interview in the evening news. With a rumored deterioration in his health, will he be finance minister much longer?
Latest poll for the 2013 Bavarian elections:
CSU: 44%
SPD: 23%
FDP: 3%
Greens: 12 %
Free voters: 6%
Left: 2%
Pirates: 6%
Others: 2%
The chairman of the FDP Philipp Rösler was still under intense pressure. Despite hanging on the chairmanship, the fact that the FDP was hovering around the 5-percent threshold meant a lot of people being nervous. The fact that two thirds of the FDP-members of the Bundestag could expect to lose their seats did not make it any easier for him.
“Philipp Rösler has to show that he is willing and able to deliver our political message. I am certain that a lot of people in Germany support our political ideas. Our party leadership has to start delivering.”Rainer Brüderle, chief whip of the FDP in the Bundestag, giving an interview. He is rumored to have leadership ambitions. Will he succeed Philipp Rösler?
"The FDP is the party of strong economic growth and less intervention into the free markets. I am confident that the people in Germany will appreciate this in the upcoming elections."Philipp Rösler speaking at a press conference. Will he still be the leader in the upcoming elections?
Meanwhile the race for becoming the SPD’s candidate for chancellor was heating up. The three main contenders Sigmar Gabriel, former minister for the environment and chairman of the SPD, Peer Steinbrück, former minister for finances and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, former foreign minister and chief whip of the SPD in the Bundestag were trying to convince their own party to nominate them. Other possible contenders like Hannelore Kraft, minister president of Northrhein-Westphalia, Klaus Wowereit, mayor of Berlin, or Olaf Scholz, mayor of Hamburg, were not in consideration or declined to run.
“We need a strong signal for Europe. We need economic growth and income distribution. Merkel is not able to deliver and we need a progressive government in Germany which cares for the people. Only the Social Democrats are able to do this.”Sigmar Gabriel meets the leader of the French socialists, Martin Aubry. Both are discussing future strategies to strengthen the Party of European socialists ahead of the 2014 elections for the European parliament. Gabriel is also hoping to improve his international credentials.
“Germany is in a strong position thanks to the reforms chancellor Schröder undertook. We need to continue these reforms to ensure our economic prosperity. Angela Merkel is not willing to do this."Peer Steinbrück at a SPD event in Hanover with MP Caren Marks and the Mayor of the Wedemark Tjark Bartels. He hopes to get more support from the party base which is still very skeptical of him.
“Chancellor Merkel’s chaotic government has produced no results during the last three years. A SPD government will change this. We need a new government and the sooner your govnerment falls the better for Germany."Frank Walter Steinmeier during a Bundestag debate in response to Angela Merkel. He is hoping to be the consensus candidate between Steinbrück und Gabriel. But can he convince his party to give him a second chance after the disastrous result in 2009?
“I am very comfortable here in Northrhein-Westphalia and have no intention to run for chancellor.”Is Hannelore Kraft beloved by the partie’s base the next candidate for chancellor?
SV: “We need a candidate who can show that he or she stands for different political ideas than Merkel’s government and has learnt from our ideas in the past.”
FTD: “Who would you prefer as candidate?”
SV: “The party has to decide who best represents the party and can unite the SPD.”Sasha Vogt, leader of the Young Socialists, giving an interview to the Financial Times Germany.
Poll by Forsa: Who should be the SPD’s candidate for chancellor?Sigmar Gabriel: 21%
Frank-Walter Steinmeier: 42%
Peer Steinbrück: 37%
Latest Federal Poll from Forschungsgruppe Wahlen (FGW)
CDU/CSU: 34%
SPD: 28%
Greens: 14%
FDP: 5%
Left: 7%
Pirates: 8%
Others: 4%
Direct matchup between the speculated SPD’s candidate for chancellor:
Merkel vs. Gabriel: 54% Merkel, 27% Gabriel
Merkel vs. Steinmeier: 47% Merkel, 32% Steinmeier
Merkel vs. Steinbrück: 45% Merkel, 30% Steinbrück
Merkel vs. Kraft: 42% Merkel, 32% Kraft
For the time being Weil and McAllister were campaigning across Lower Saxony.
“We always agreed on our political positions. And now we are united to deliver the political change the people in Lower Saxony need.”
Stephan Weil with his former rival and now member of his shadow cabinet Olaf Lies at a campaign event in Aurich. Will Weil be able to gain political momentum over the next couple of weeks?
Latest poll for Lower Saxony by Infratest Dimap:
CDU: 37%
SPD: 34%
Greens: 13%
FDP: 4%
Left: 2%
Pirates: 7%
Others: 3%
Meanwhile people in Germany were looking across the Atlantic for the exciting presidential elections in the US. The polls predicted it to be a close race.
Gallup daily tracking poll November 5th 2012:
Obama/Biden: 48%
Romney/Portman: 48%
In the end Obama and Biden won several key battleground states.
Final Result:
Barack Obama/Joe Biden: 50.02%
Mitt Romney/Rob Portman: 48.77%
“Thank you America. We have shown tonight that the voice of every single American matters. No matter how much money you have, no matter if you work in car manufacturing or in a school, no matter where you’re from, you can all make a difference. Now let us come together and continue the work we have all started four years ago.”
President Barack Obama at the victory rally in Chicago. The crowd was still large, but significantly smaller than four years ago. What will the next four years hold for the US and the world?
In China Xi Jinping becomes Secretary General of the Communist Party in preparation for him to ascend to the presidency in 2013. Will he stay the course?
