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German Chancellor's Party Routed
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's party was handed a stinging defeat by voters in Hamburg in Sunday elections reflecting the pent-up anger over his push to cut cherished state benefits. Schroeder's Social Democrats slumped to a postwar low in the northern port city they ruled for decades until 2001, while the conservative Christian Democrats surged to a majority on a campaign built on Mayor Ole von Beust's personal popularity.
| So long, Gerhard, nice knowing ya. Sorta. |
The Social Democrats won 30.5 percent, down from 36.5 percent in 2001, while the Christian Democrats polled 47.2 percent, up from 26.2 percent, according to official results. The Greens improved, but not enough to help the Social Democrats unseat the conservatives. The ballot in the traditionally liberal city was the first of 14 elections in Germany this year at local, state and European levels. Though the rout was less severe than some polls predicted, Social Democratic leaders conceded that Schroeder's unpopular drive to trim pension, health care and jobless benefits didn't help.
| Perhaps because he spent most of his political capital opposing the Iraq war. |
Schroeder has spent much of his energy in recent months battling resistance in his own party to limited welfare-state changes he says will make Germany more competitive, while preserving a social safety net.
| Which is needed, as is needed in the US. But he's the wrong messenger. |
Posted by: Steve White 2004-03-01 |
