German elections: Angela Merkel wins, but no absolute majority - official

[webfact]

German elections: Angela Merkel wins, but no absolute majority - official

BERLIN: -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives won Sunday's elections with the best result in over two decades but narrowly missed an absolute majority, preliminary official results showed.

Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party together won 41.5 percent of the vote against 25.7 percent for the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) and 8.4 percent for the ecologist Greens.

The CDU's junior coalition allies the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) for the first time in over half a century missed out on any seats in parliament, garnering only 4.8 percent.

Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_09_23/German-elections-Angela-Merkel-wins-but-no-absolute-majority-official-9029/

-- THE VOICE OF RUSSIA 2013-09-23

[Publicus]

I look forward to Chancellor Angela Merkel meeting with President Hillary Clinton.

Historic.

Earth shaking.

[phitsanulokjohn]

''Don't mention the war.I mentioned it once but i think i got away with it alright''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfl6Lu3xQW0 What a classic.

[robertson468]

I look forward to Chancellor Angela Merkel meeting with President Hillary Clinton.

Historic.

Earth shaking.

And of course Prime Minister Yingluck.....................?

[Saradoc1972]

If she had got that absolute majority I'd state that as my reason to go to Thailand on a permanent basis in a couple of month.

Good thing is, those liberals are out out out. Hooray! (Except with a view to the hitherto minister of justice)

[Bagwan]

What has this to do with Thailand? Just asking.

[Scott]

What has this to do with Thailand? Just asking.

This section is the WORLD NEWS. Topics are not Thai related.

[Publicus]

I look forward to Chancellor Angela Merkel meeting with President Hillary Clinton.

Historic.

Earth shaking.

And of course Prime Minister Yingluck.....................?

Actually I'm told that while Clinton was SecState she and Yingluck were on the phone on a regular basis and not just about Thai-US relations. There was a lot of woman-to-woman, women in high public life consultation, discussion, advice.

I'm told it continues even now, after Clinton has left the office.

That guy in Dubai gets nervous when Yingluck goes off the reservation, as it were, but keeps his concerns to himself given Prez Obama has strongly supported the democratically elected PTP government.

Merkel hasn't any time for such things so she just focuses on good relations with Thailand given all the Germans in the former LOS.

Merkel is interested In Merkel.

Hey, she won, and she won under her own steam.

[Jay Sata]

Angela has achieved a lot in terms of handling the recession and being a hands on Euro leader.

Don't knock her.

[OldSalty]

The only problem is, she has to form a government now, and that will probably be a "Great Coalition" which means in a way a coalition between the Republicans and Democrats in the US, or Labour and Conservatives in the UK, or Labour and Liberals in Australia, so two "opposite" parties to form one government in a "democratic" country

Edited September 25, 2013 by OldSalty

[Saradoc1972]

Angela has achieved a lot in terms of handling the recession and being a hands on Euro leader.

Don't knock her.

???

You mean she "handled" recession by reaping the benefits from the cruel cuts to the social system Chancellor Schroeder introduced in 2003, for which he saw parts of his party split off and had to call for new elections only 3y into his second term?

As to her leadership, we have cabaret sketches over here how she looks for the biggest group, stands in front of them pondering and the turns round shouting "follow me!". That comedian suspects she still has her socialist youth organization t-shirt in her drawer, just in case. As to "hands on", ask the Greek; they would love to get their hands on...

[manarak]

I too think Merkel benefited a lot from the necessary social reforms done by her socialist predecessor, who, although very unusual for a socialist, did the right thing, which cured German employment and prevented taxes from rising uncontrollably.

I don't like Merkel too much, but I have to admit that she is very skilled and has the wingspan of a proper statesman.

I can't say the same about the clowns that spearheaded the FDP over the last years, baby-faced Rösler and a Westerwelle, both lacking the aura of being important.

The FDP will be sadly missed - not because the aforementioned clowns are gone, but for two important reasons:

Firstly, the FDP did safeguard a number of civil rights, protecting citizens from automatic communications data storage and from other state-sanctioned spying, as well as being a watchdog within the government regarding public spending and taxes.

Secondly, the FDP was the privileged partner for the CDU for ruling the country.

Now that it's gone, CDU can only choose between the socialists, the socialo-communists and the green, all of which are left-wing and ideologically opposed to the CDU. I fear they will just cause Germany into a standstill for some years.

The disappearance of the FDP from German Bundestag is a sad day from Germany.

I hope they will find something to say and someone to say it - and be back.