Voters are expected to deliver a huge setback to German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on May 22. The Christian Democrats look set to take control from Schröder's Social Democrats, who have led the state for 39 years. A survey by Berlin pollster Forsa shows the Christian Democrats winning the election 45% to 34%. There is even speculation that a defeat for the Social Democrats in Germany's most populous state may prompt Schröder to resign. Most analysts think he'll tough it out until national elections in 2006, hoping that an economic upswing will restore his popularity. He's likely to veer left to fire up his party's core voters.
Copyright 2005, Bloomberg L.P.
Printer-Friendly Version
