German SPD tops Merkel party in Berlin state vote

[xchrom]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/18/uk-germany-election-idUKTRE78G2H520110918

(Reuters) - Germany's centre-left Social Democrats beat Angela Merkel's conservatives in a regional election in the city-state of Berlin on Sunday, handing the chancellor her sixth defeat in seven elections this year.

The SPD won 29.5 percent of the vote in Berlin, down from 30.8 percent in 2006 in Germany's largest city with 3.4 million inhabitants, according to an exit poll on ARD television. SPD Mayor Klaus Wowereit appeared to be headed for a third five-year term, with the Greens as his most likely coalition partner.

The CDU won 23.5 percent, up slightly from 21.3 percent in 2006 but well below the 40 percent the party used to win in Berlin in the 1980s and 1990s. The Greens won 18 percent, up from 13.1 percent in 2006, and the Left party fell to 11.5 percent from 13.4 percent. The Pirate Party won a stunning 8.5 percent.



***now, may the left in france show sarkozy the door out.

[LeftishBrit]

1. Good news!

'now, may the left in france show sarkozy the door out.'

And may we find a way to get rid of the Tories in Britain, or at least defeat some of their nastier plans!

[xchrom]

2. what is going on in britain, dude?

i just read -- guardian? -- as unhappy as people are w/ the torries they trust them on the economy more than labour?

now admittedly -- blair kinda fucked things up for labour -- but really?

[LeftishBrit]

3. The most important question is voting intention..

and virtually all recent polls have shown Labour with a lead over the Tories. The lead varies from week to week and pollster to pollster, but a lead of about 4 points is typical. The Tories are currently trying to gerrymander the constituencies to favour themselves, but I think they'll still lose next time unless something drastic happens.

[xchrom]

5. Fingers crossed! Nt

[sfpcjock]

4. Cool, K&R

An last week the center-left Danish woman candidate won their Presidency. Here's a recent post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1954987&mesg_id=1954987