> Chris Burford wrote
>>That the new finance minister comes from Hesse also seems to be a signal of
>>Schroeders determination to pay attention to electability in view of the
>>recent SPD losses there. And for that, it is necessary to be cautious
>>about what parts of capital can be taken on at any one time.
>>
>
>There is another thing to be kept in mind with Eichel. Actually he is one of
>Lafontaines boys. What he has been calling for in the past was pretty much
>in line with the SPD party programme ( and thus Lafontaine ). When he still
>was mayor of Kassel he got the nickname the 'Lafontaine of Kassel'.
>Johannes
I am puzzled by this, while I really appreciate the opportunity of checking out these events in an international forum.
Eichel, like a good party man, may have spoken up for the SPD party programme, but surely there are some differences between him and Lafontaine. He certainly doesn't talk and act like Lafontaine from what I can make out of German television. Perhaps that is because he was taunted so mercilessly as the Lafontaine of Kassel.
On a point in another post, I clearly agree that people should not tail behind the SPD of Lafontaine. I do not know enough about the PDS on the present situation to know how they place themselves, but in what sense are they "Stalinist"? The expression can be a catch all of many negative meanings.
Chris Burford
London