Frankfurter Zeitung
SPD Leads New Government
LDPD Wins Key Ministries
Greens In Government
After an unpredictable election night which saw the Conservative Party win the highest share of the votes, it was assumed, not least by the Kaiser, that they would cobble together a coalition. Instead, with only the Center Party agreeing to serve under a Conservative Chancellor, Herr Merz's attempts to form a new government have collapsed.
The pivotal player is the Liberal Democratic Party, which ran a strong third in the Reichstag Elections. In return for allowing the SPD, which only ran second, to name the Chancellor, the Liberal Democrats have won significant ministries for themselves, including Vice Chancellor, the Foreign Ministry and the Finance Ministry. LDPD Leader Angela Merkel will serve as Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister under Chancellor-elect Gesine Schwan (SPD). The SPD is expected to hold the Interior and Defense Ministries among the important portfolios.
In the meantime, the surprisingly strong showing of the Green Party, with nearly 15% of the votes, has allowed them to enter this new Center-Left coalition. Party leader Joschka Fischer and his party are expected to receive the Environment, Justice,Cultural Affairs and Economic Cooperation.
The Center, which had hoped to be a kingmaker in this election, ran worse than expected, coming in a poor fifth among the parties and has been shut out of the expected new governing coalition. Party leader zu Guttenberg is expected to resign shortly. Elements within the Center Party that are sympathetic to the Conservatives are expected to gain the upper hand. There is even brewing discussions of both parties building a common faction in the Reichstag to provide "a strong National opposition to a leftwing government," according to one KPD official who asked not to be identified.
The new government is expected to show less deference to the Kaiser than would have a Conservative-led Government.