In our May 1st article (“Europe, and after May 6th?”), we reminded that while French voters were waiting to elect their President of the Republic the following Sunday, other voters could have changed the face of European politics with their vote.
This is exactly what happened with the election this Sunday in North Rhine-Westphalia: it will not be business as usual, and the Merkozy tandem will have to be replaced by a necessarily more collegial policy.
One can imagine the mindset of the former President Sarkozy, whose chances of re-election were severely disrupted due to his role as a “junior partner” in the pairing with Frau Merkel, who will be obliged to modify her orthodox budgetary policy after the setbacks inflicted upon her by German voters in all consultations across the different Länder. And next year, the calendar foresees the national election…
So it would be better for her to soften her stance before it turns into vinegar!
Ah, if Nicolas Sarkozy had known… he might still be the occupant of the Élysée!
Heavy defeat for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union in today’s election in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous Land of the 16 in the Federal Republic and the industrial, mining, and political heart of the country.
The left-wing parties won largely with the triumph of the SPD and the good score of the Grünen (Greens). The chancellor emerges seriously weakened: her obsessive austerity will lose weight and strength against the calls of the SPD regarding commitments to growth in exchange for the ratification of the fiscal pact which must be approved by a 2/3 majority and requires a compromise between different positions.
Additionally, Angela Merkel will be in difficulty when, in 48 hours, she receives the new French President François Hollande, who will ask her not to govern Europe alone and to do more for growth and employment.
