G R A B A P A R T N E R

Germany’s deadlocked election leaves open a variety of possible coalition alignments. These are some of the most frequently mentioned. Grand Coalition The alliance would group conservative Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrat/ Christian Social Union (225 seats) with Gerhard Schroeder’s Social Democratic Party (222 seats). Although a similar alliance was tried once in the 1960s, a repeat seems unlikely, as immense bitterness remains between the parties, and both Merkel and Schroeder want to be chancellor. Jamaica Coalition Named for the black, green and yellow of the parties’ colours, just like the Jamaican flag, this would put Merkel’s CDU/CSU in the driver’s seat with the pro-business Free Democrats (61 seats) and the Greens (51 seats). The advantage for Merkel is she would be undisputed leader. But the leftist Greens, who propped up Schroeder in the last government, seem unlikely allies for her conservatives. Traffic Light Coalition Schroeder’s Social Democratic Party (red) with the Free Democrats (yellow) and Greens (green, of course). The Social Democrats and the Greens have worked together for years, but the pro-business Free Democrats might feel uncomfortable in their midst. Red-Red-Green This combination adds the new Left Party (54 seats, red), made up of renegade Social Democrats and former East German communists, to the tried and tested Social Democrat/ mix. It would require co-operation between Schroeder and New Left leaders who consider him too pro-business.