Crucial poll win brings SPD cheer

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, MAY. 15. The German Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder and his ruling Social Democrats breathed a sigh of relief after their electoral victory in Rhine-Westphalia, the country's largest and most populous State.

In the most crucial local election of the year, the ruling party got 42.8 per cent of the votes to win 106 seats in a House of 221 while the Opposition Christian Democrats maintained their vote share of 37 per cent with 88 seats. The election results were a setback for the Greens, the junior partners in the ruling coalition. They lost seven seats, getting a total of 17 to come last among the four mainstream parties. But the poll was a crucial victory for the ``Free Democrats'' who were junior coalition partners of the Christian Democrats during Chancellor Helmut Kohl's reign. They are considered the real beneficiaries of the Rhine-Westphalia election. Initial speculation that the Free Democrats may again join hands with the Social Democrats to oust the Greens has not yielded anything. However, the Free Democrats' new found strength and the Greens' present lean phase could affect the balance of power in the coalition Government.

Young German voters blame the Greens for the higher energy costs and constant bickering about the future of the country's nuclear policy and export of weapons. Surprisingly, many Germans also blame the Greens for the current decline of the euro on the ground that the party has no business agenda. The Greens entered the national government in 1998 and for the first time on sunday, they suffered a modest electoral reverse.

It is ironical that the Social Democrats and the Greens lost votes to the Free Democrats, which is a small business-friendly party mainly supported by young voters. It appears Mr. Schroeder and his ``progressive'' Social Democrats find more common ground with the Free Democrats than the controversial Greens. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Joscka Fischer, who is also the leader of the Greens called last week for a European federal superstate with its own elected president and written constitution. His statement, though considered more Utopian than practical, provides ideal fodder for the euro- sceptics in major European Union capitals.

The Social Democrats have of late distanced themselves from such pan-European rhetoric. Mr. Schroeder has reiterated his resolve to modernise the economy by slashing capital gain and corporate taxes and pruning the country's generous but unaffordable welfare system. Last month, the Chancellor proposed bringing in high-tech skilled immigrants from India and eastern Europe to boost Germany's technological base. The question of importing skilled labour has triggered much controversy in a country with a xenophobic hangover.

In Rhine-Westphalia, the Social Democrats have been suitably rewarded for their bold and specific economic reform agenda. The results also carry much significance as this State has one fifth of Germany's population. The Social Democrat Premier of the State, Mr. Wolfgang Clement has often been described as Mr. Schroeder's soulmate as both men present themselves as pragmatists who want to reinvigorate Europe's biggest economy. In Rhine-Westphalia, the Social Democrats have a particular advantage as they have governed the State for 34 years. The CDU is yet to recover from the party fund scandal. Moreover, the party is still to articulate its political and economic agenda under the new leadership of Ms. Angela Merkel.

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Section  : International
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