Tariffs on imports only way to get fairness, says Trump    24 Democratic states and cities sue over Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship    As fighting in Gaza stops, Israel launches major military campaign in West Bank Israeli forces kill 10 Palestinians in Jenin    Saudi Arabia introduces national policy to eliminate forced labor    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    Al Nassr secures hard-fought 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in Saudi Pro League    Al Hilal signs young Brazilian talent Kaio César from Vitória Guimarães    Roberto Firmino's volley secures Al Ahli's 2-1 win over Al Ettifaq    Saudi foreign minister expresses cautious optimism about Syria Prince Faisal will visit Lebanon soon    Saudi Arabia is keen on continue working with US Princess Reema attends inauguration of President Trump    Arcapita & Parkway invest in a portfolio of high-growth Artificial Intelligence companies    Trump makes 'two genders' and anti-DEI policy official    "Dar wa Emaar" generates more than SR900 million in sales of "Tala al Khuzam" units within 2 months Unique housing and investment opportunity in north Riyadh    Saudi Aramco chief expects oil demand to rise by 1.3 million bpd this year    Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning meets with Schneider Electric chairman in Davos    Saudi Arabia takes part in Ministerial Meeting in New York in support of Yemeni government    Princess Hessa bint Salman attends launch of fashion design exhibition in Riyadh Princess Noura Al-Faisal: Art of Heritage showcases Saudi identity with a modern vision    Weight-loss drugs may boost health in many ways    Interior ministry introduces drone to enhance road security    Sir Anthony Hopkins mesmerizes Riyadh with his first live musical performance 'Life Is A Dream'    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



German Social Democrats: election 'still open'
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 14 - 06 - 2009


Germany's Social Democrats are ignoring
slumping polls and a disastrous showing in recent European
elections, insisting at a party conference that the
country's parliamentary election is still «open.»
The Social Democrat chancellor candidate, Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, called on about 500 delegates
gathered in Berlin on Sunday to stage a «furious
campaign» before Sept. 27 balloting, AP reported.
«Everything is open. We will keep it open and win in the
end,» Steinmeier said to the group, which approved a
campaign platform that focuses on tax increases for the
wealthy, setting a national minimum hourly wage of ¤7.50
($10.50) and increased spending for education.
The Social Democrats face a serious battle. A poll Friday
showed the gap in support between the Social Democrats and
their main rival, Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian
Democrats, grew again, after the party drew a record-low
20.8 percent of the vote in European parliamentary
elections a week ago.
Just 25 percent of Germans polled for broadcaster ZDF said
they would vote for the Social Democrats if the election
was held Sunday, a 3 percentage point drop from the
previous poll in May.
Steinmeier criticized Merkel for failing to act with swift
decisiveness when tackling key issues.
«Germany can no longer stand that,» Steinmeier said.
«It's about leadership, it's about clarity and
direction.»
Yet the Social Democrats will have their work cut out for
them in trying to shake Germans' faith in Merkel, whose
party gained a percentage point to 37 percent support, the
poll showed.
The Free Democrats, a pro-business party and Merkel's
preferred coalition partner, gained 1 percentage point for
13 percent support _ just enough to give them and the
Christian Democrats a majority.
The most likely coalition partner for the Social Democrats
are the Greens. But the poll indicated they had only 8
percent support, which would not be enough for a two-party
coalition.
The Social Democrats underlined they would not consider
joining with the Left Party, which drew 11 percent.
The poll conducted for ZDF by the Mannheim-based Elections
Research Group questioned 1,343 randomly selected eligible
voters between June 8-10. It had a margin of error of about
plus or minus 2.5 points.


Clic here to read the story from its source.