GERMANY: German voters will go to the polls on September 18th to elect a new government after President Horst Köhler dissolved parliament yesterday evening.
But the road to the general elections Chancellor Gerhard Schröder started down three weeks ago with a deliberate failed vote of confidence in his own leadership may yet be blocked after two government MPs announced appeals to the constitutional court.
"I am of the opinion that the good of our people is best served with new elections," said Mr Köhler in a television address yesterday evening. He said that, after long deliberations with political leaders and constitutional lawyers, he had come to share the opinion of Mr Schröder that the government faced constant threats to its stability from rebel MPs inside its own ranks unhappy with the reform agenda.
"Our country faces massive challenges. Our future and that of our children is at stake. The federal budget is at a critical level," said Mr Köhler. "In this serious situation our country needs a government that can pursue its goals with steadiness and vigour."
A flash survey for German television last night showed 78 per cent of voters agreed with Mr Köhler's decision to call the general election a year early, with just 15 per cent against. Mr Schröder said he welcomed Mr Köhler's decision.
But the same survey showed that only one in five questioned believe he will win a third term, with three-quarters of voters sure the next chancellor will be CDU leader Angela Merkel.
Social Democrat (SPD) MP Jelena Hoffman said she would file an objection to the constitutional court next week. "I find this path wrong," she said. "The vote of confidence was not a real vote, nor was it honest and I want to protest against that." A second case will be taken by Green Party MP Werner Schulz.
"The decision doesn't surprise me," he said. "Mr Köhler couldn't resist the political pressure put on him for early elections. I think it's only right that this decision is now examined by the constitutional court." A spokesman for the constitutional court in Karlsruhe said a ruling would not be likely before early September.