23/09/2013
In what must be one of the most predictable elections in recent times, Merkel is claiming victory in the German general election. Her right-of-centre bloc has gained about 42 percent of the vote, up more than eight points over the 2009 election, in what has been described as a
historic success.
The SDP (socialists) are up two points on 2009, coming in with 25.6 percent, but the FDP has been wiped out. And, for all the hype, so has the AFD. Both these two have gained under fiver percent so neither get any seats in the
Bundestag. The Pirates have been almost totally eliminated, polling a mere 2.2 percent.
However, despite Merkel's strong showing, winning her a third term as chancellor, she doesn't hold a majority. Initial polls suggested she might take an absolute majority, but it was not to be.
The Greens score 8.4 percent, slightly down on the last election, and the hard-line Left party take 8.5, giving the Christian Union a projected 296 seats against the "red-green" alliance, plus the Left, of 302.
The Greens hold the balance of power, but have so far said they will not enter into a coalition with anyone. The Socialists, on the other hand, have ruled out a three-way alliance. That leaves the possibility of a CDU/SPD alliance â roughly the equivalent of a Conservative-Labour coalition, even if the gulf is not quite so wide.
Only once the dust settles, though, does it get interesting. Now we see the colour of Merkel's euros, and find out what her plans are for a new treaty.
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