Merkel wins German election

USAToday
9/18/05
 

excerpt:

Conservative challenger Angela Merkel's party won the most votes in German elections Sunday but fell short of a clear mandate to govern, according to official results. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder staged a dramatic comeback and proclaimed that he should head the next government.

The vote heralded the end of Schroeder's seven-year tenure but left in doubt who will follow. The inconclusive results make it likely that Germany's next government would be weakened because of the narrow vote margin and difficulties in forming a coalition.

The vote centered on different visions of Germany's role in the world and how to fix its sputtering economy. Schroeder touted the country's role as a European leader and counterbalance to America, while Merkel pledged to reform the economy and strengthen relations with Washington.

But Merkel's move to become Germany's first female chancellor puts those finance reform plans in doubt. She must now find a majority in a coalition that would likely force her to water them down.

The result was a major setback for Merkel, whose party was at 42% in polls the week before the election.

She smiled but appeared uncomfortable as she argued that she had a mandate to be the next leader. "What is important now is to form a stable government for the people in Germany, and we ... quite clearly have the mandate to do that," Merkel said.