AS chairman of the Social Democrats, Oskar Lafontaine might expect to be his party's first choice as candidate for Chancellor next year. But the 56 year old Prime Minister of the tiny southern state of the Saar was roundly defeated by Dr Kohl in 1990 and remains unpopular among voters.
A gifted orator who delights party conferences with robust denunciations of Dr Kohl's social policies, Mr Lafontaine has done an impressive job in healing bitter rifts within the Social Democrats. But unless he can improve his public image within the next year, he will come under intense pressure to step aside in favour of a more popular candidate.