Germany's Social Democrats Consider Left Party Deal [View All]

[reorg]

Source: DW-World.de - Deutsche Welle

Political Parties | 05.03.2008

The leader of the Social Democrats in the state of Hesse signaled a significant shift in German politics by saying she would hold talks with the Left Party. But her main opponents want her to consider a grand coalition.

Six weeks after inconclusive elections in the western state, Hesse's Social Democratic Part (SPD) leader, Andrea Ypsilanti, said her preferred combination of the SPD, the Greens and the liberal FDP had foundered on opposition from the FDP.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), however, said it wanted to engage in talks with Ypsilanti over a grand coalition, similar to the national power-sharing agreement, according to CDU state parliamentary leader Christean Wagner.

He told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday, March 5, a grand coalition would be the only way to keep the Left Party from increasing its influence.

Ypsilanti, who positions herself on the left wing of the SPD, indicated on Tuesday, she would accept being voted into office as premier with the help of the six Left Party members of the new legislature.

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Read more: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3167706,00.html

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Another article in Spiegel Online International, with quotes from other newspapers:

'Shaky Ground' for Germany's Social Democrats

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD)have ended weeks of soul searching and prevarication by opting to form a minority government in the western German state of Hesse. But the party's decision to go back on its word and rely on Left Party votes to do so already looks like it is turning off voters.

Hesse SPD leader Andrea Ypsilanti will now try to form a coalition with the Green Party by relying on support from the Left Party. By doing so, she is going back on her pledge made before the election to not cooperate with the left-wing party. However, the election created a stalemate situation in Hesse with neither the SPD nor the conservative Christian Democrats having either a majority or the ability to build a coalition government with their preferred political partners.

Then, two weeks ago, SPD party boss Kurt Beck hinted he was relaxing his opposition to working with the Left Party at the state and regional level in (more...) in western Germany, opening up a dangerous rift with more conservative elements within his own party. Finally, on Tuesday, Yspilanti went back on her initial promise, saying she would try to form a minority government by relying on votes from the Left Party (more...).

The Left Party, which was formed by the merger of the PDS, the successor to the ruling Communist SED party of the former East Germany, and WAGS, a group of disaffected former SPD members and other far-leftists in western Germany, has been able to capitalize on the anger caused by sweeping welfare cuts introduced under the previous SPD-Green coalition in the federal government led by ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Already in a strong position in eastern Germany, it has now successfully entered western German state parliaments. ...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,539561,00.html

The SPD can do whatever they want, for now the Left Party will be strengthened either way.