The Schröder era was drawing to a tortuous close yesterday after Germany's chancellor orchestrated his own defeat in parliament, setting the stage for early elections he has little hope of winning.The historic vote of no-confidence marked the beginning of the end for the so-called Red-Green coalition, which has ruled the country for the last seven years. It opened the way for the rise to power of Angela Merkel, the leader of the conservative opposition, to become Germany's first female chancellor if, as expected, she triumphs at the polls in September.
In a reflection of the perversity of much of German politics, Gerhard Schröder was reduced to engineering his own drubbing, instructing his Social Democrats to abstain in the vote in the Bundestag. In a half-hour long speech before the vote, which often sounded like a swansong, Mr Schröder argued that he needed a new mandate in order to pursue his economic reforms. "If we are to continue with this agenda, legitimisation through new elections is needed," a lacklustre Mr Schröder, dressed in a black suit and watched from the public gallery by his wife, Doris, told parliament. "We need clarity."
Mrs Merkel, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, responded in fiery mood, saying Mr Schröder's move would "save Germany from months of inaction". She accused his government of "undoing everything that the Christian Democrats set in motion" under the 16-year reign of Helmut Kohl, of "plundering" the country, and of failing to communicate the need for reform to the electorate. "You have never managed to explain to the citizens the necessity of these reforms and that is what finally led to your government's defeat," she said.
In what was effectively an opening gambit in a campaign that will be brief but intense, Mrs Merkel quoted back at Mr Schröder his remark that his government would resign if it failed to reduce unemployment. In fact, it has risen considerably during his time in office. Germany is in the grip of economic lethargy and a collapse in national morale without parallel in decades.
Mr Schroder's reforms, known as Agenda 2010, have yet to bring a turnaround, leading to apathy and frustration among the voters. The chancellor has argued that holding elections a year ahead of schedule will help to end the deadlock.
But losing yesterday's confidence vote is only the first of several steps necessary before an election is certain to go ahead and a date can be set. Mr Schröder must now ask President Horst Köhler to accept yesterday's result and dissolve parliament, a decision that must be reached within the next 21 days and which could lead to an election, most probably on Sept 18. Mr Köhler must decide whether Mr Schröder's self-inflicted downfall is constitutionally legitimate.
His position is, however, unenviable. If he vetoes early elections, Germany will be plunged into even worse turmoil, with a government that no longer wants to be in power, a parliament its members want to dissolve and an electorate fed up with chronically inactive politicians.
Yesterday, German newspapers were already writing their obituaries of Mr Schröder's career. But commentators also cast doubt for the first time on Mrs Merkel's ability to win Germans over in the campaign. Her popularity rating has dropped by 10 points to 36 per cent since last month, while Mr Schroder's has increased by two points to 40 per cent. The foreign minister and deputy chancellor, Joschka Fischer, of the Greens, likened Mrs Merkel yesterday to "a well-baked soufflé in the oven". Her attraction to the voters "won't last", he said.
A petty man, right to the very end.