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Merkel Heads for 2nd Term, With Messy Coalition

German vote could free or hamstring chancellor for 4 more years

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 25, 2009 5:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – Germany votes in a federal election in less than 48 hours, but Angela Merkel has better things to do than campaign; she's in Pittsburgh with the rest of the G20. Merkel is assured of a second term, but in Germany's complex system of coalition politics, the bigger question is which other parties will do well. Merkel wants to form a government with the low-tax Free Democrats, but that grouping has slipped just below 50% in the polls. "It's going to be a thriller," one political scientist tell Bloomberg.

In 2005, Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats led the liberal Social Democrats by 20 points until polling week, when her support collapsed. Since then she has presided over an awkward "grand coalition" with her rivals—imagine Republicans and Democrats in the same cabinet. Analysts say that a new pairing with the FDP would free Merkel to push through reform. But at least a quarter of the electorate remains undecided, and come Monday she could find herself leading a second motley government of right and left.

An election poster for Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden. The caption reads: 'Confidence.' (AP Photo/Matthias Rietschel)

Barack and Michelle Obama welcome German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrived for the G-20 summit dinner in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures during a news conference in Berlin, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a media conference after a special EU summit at the EU Council building in Brussels, Thursday Sept. 17, 2009. The U.S. is set to face renewed pressure from... (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

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Merkel Heads for 2nd Term, With Messy Coalition

German vote could free or hamstring chancellor for 4 more years

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France, Germany Discussing Pared Down Euro Zone

Controversial plan means some countries would be out

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Belgian division to be nationalized; Belgium, France offer guarantees

Merkel, Sarko Reach Bank Deal

Mum on details, will pitch to EU leaders this month

Germany OKs Expanded Bailout

Merkel gets her win; move designed to shore up euro zone

Now Rich Germans Want to Pay More Taxes

Wealthy folks worldwide take Buffett's lead

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Merkel Heads for 2nd Term, With Messy Coalition

German vote could free or hamstring chancellor for 4 more years

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Angela Merkel • Germany • CDU • SPD • German election • Social Democratic Party

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

France, Germany Discussing Pared Down Euro Zone

Controversial plan means some countries would be out

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Belgian division to be nationalized; Belgium, France offer guarantees

Merkel, Sarko Reach Bank Deal

Mum on details, will pitch to EU leaders this month

Germany OKs Expanded Bailout

Merkel gets her win; move designed to shore up euro zone

Now Rich Germans Want to Pay More Taxes

Wealthy folks worldwide take Buffett's lead

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?