... and an addendum: it may be worthwile to filter News for 'Kohl' today - (I have not yet seen news today). In the last few days action were faster than me in that matters.
The mentioned Glogowski was forced out of office on Saturday - Schroeder was strong enough to have his own prince promoted in substitution. S.Gabriel, who was also Glogowski's favorite, is now the youngest prime minister Germany ever had (roughly your age).
On the other hand it became clear that Kohl was pressurized by his own party fellows more than by Schroeder - there was revenge from old rivalry, revenge for the time in which Kohl had himself declared sacrosanct and gently chopped everybody's head off before he became too popular. CDU is trying to make that scandal a Kohl one, not a party one, and Kohl is now repentent and responsive. Whether that will lead to the growth of a renewed leadership inside the party is a doubtful matter.
If things run along the lines set now, its' possible final outcome might be that Volker Ruehe will become next conservative top candidate - and he would play as much the Schroeder copy as Schroeder has played the Kohl copy. But that's still a long way to go.
btw, SPD has taken my Kiep/Kohl keep/cool pun from last posting and put on flash advertisement/placards. Wasn't very original, anyway. But I am satisfied that Schroeder followed my early observation to pick up the Schmidt image. Gives me hope for a point in the Ruehe prediction for 2001/2002.
Bye, and all the best again, MNI |
