On Tue, 20 Sep 2005, Doug Henwood wrote:
> > Most people in Germany seem to consider the Greens to the right of the
> > SPD when it comes to neoliberalism.
>
> That's what today's FT says:
>
> "Ronald Pofalla, deputy CDU parliamentary leader, said the CDU and Greens
> were 'not that far apart' on central economic issues."
BTW, that front page FT article ends with Joschka Fischer saying he's dead against the idea of joining a coalition with the CDU and Liberals.
Top news today: Fischer has stepped down and joined the back benches.
The Schwampel or Jamaican coalition (black-green-yellow), long a purely theoretical entity beloved of speculative pundits, is now actually beginning to look more likely than a traffic light coalition. Although it's still second in probability to a grand coalition, still -- the idea that it's being treated as a real possibility is a watershed. The 89ers in the Green party may be finally about to take over from the 68ers.
Michael
======
Joschka Fischer to return to back benches
20 September 2005
BERLIN - Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer announced Tuesday after the
German government's weekend election defeat he would not seek a
prominent parliamentary role in his Greens party beyond serving as an
ordinary member of the Bundestag.
"I am not seeking any leading position, and the new leadership of the
party has my full support," an emotional Fischer said, describing his
step as a major break.
The Greens had to reposition themselves after Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder's ruling coalition was thrown out of office in Sunday's
elections, he said.
"There must be clarity over the personality question," Fischer, 57,
told journalists, adding that it was time for
the younger generation to take over.
"The nice thing about this decision is that I have now left all of you
behind me," he said with a smile to reporters before leaving with a
simple "Goodbye".
Fischer refused to respond to questions regarding the formation of a
new ruling coalition and whether the Greens would play any role in
this.
In what was seen as a message to Schroeder, who has said he wants to
continue in office, despite securing fewer seats than the Christian
Democrats, Fischer said: "There is no doubt that we do not have a
majority."
He added that he could see no way forward to a new coalition under
Schroeder.
The announcement appeared to bring to an end a career spanning more
than 20 years. Fischer first served as environment minister in the
state of Hesse from December 1985.
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