Germany's Election 2009

Exit Polls Show Strong Vote for Merkel's Alliance - WSJ.com: "In a campaign widely derided as the dullest in living memory, Ms. Merkel and her rivals have stressed their belief in Germany's postwar traditions of strictly regulated markets, strong social protections and a cautious foreign policy, papering over the mounting challenges facing Western Europe's most populous nation."

The exit polls give a win for the CDU/FDP coalition with 48% of the votes, where the election system makes 47% to be sufficient. So it seems like Germany turned out like I had hoped for almost a year now since they started to speculate about the ascent of the Free Democratic Party. It is particularly satisfying now when I have parked myself in the ALDE camp of Europe ideologically. There is apparently a liberal wind blowing on the Continent and hopefully it will continue to blow also in Sweden for another year.

What is not happening in Sweden is happening in Germany, i.e., the Left party is gaining on behalf of the SPD. Is it the Law of Jante and Allemansrätten that keep the Swedish Socialdemokrater up despite the record low ratings for Mona Sahlin? Die Linke in Germany is composed of among others the old communists in DDR. Its popularity stems in part from the defection of the former SPD Oskar Lafontaine, a charismatic orator. Significant numbers of former East Germans long for the good all days when all had a job even if no one put in a full day of work.

According to a reference that Carl Bildt gave in his blog the election result is important for the relative resistance against Russia in the Caspian area and for important energy related questions. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the foreign minister, was very cooperative with the Russians. Bo Inge Andersson at SVT said that the Merkel coalition would benefit nuclear power. How this is going to play out against the Schröder and Fischer pipeline deals North Stream and Nabucco, respectively, will be interesting to see.

Steinmeier tried to get votes by suggesting that Germany should leave Afghanistan. This would mean that it now might be easier for Obama to keep German support. A German Alliansen should, at least in theory, be able to work better with the US. Also for Sweden this must be a boost for Reinfeldt. He shares the popularity with Merkel and can therefore now perhaps count on the importance of the personal vote for the election 2010.