Germany's Free Democrats Face Grim Future

In Germany's upcoming election, it is one of the smallest parties that may play the biggest role.If the polls are to be believed, the Free Democrats could be completely eliminated from the country's parliament.And that could force Chancellor Angela Merkel to form a coalition with the opposition.Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer reports from Berlin.

Europe's 1st Openly Gay FM
THE STRAIGHTS TIMES*: BERLIN - HE HAD his public coming-out five years ago at Angela Merkel's 50th birthday party and now Guido Westerwelle is in the frame to become Europe's first openly gay foreign minister.

While gay politicians have become commonplace in the much of the West, commentators said Mr Westerwelle's sexual orientation could be an issue in regions such as the Middle East and Asia where homosexuality is widely viewed as an abomination.

The leader of the business-friendly Free Democrats dismissed concerns about a clash between diplomacy and his sexuality in an interview earlier this year.

'I am convinced that today one's private life is no longer an obstacle.

Some other countries may have had a problem with the fact that Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany. Of course she does not wear a veil on the red carpet when she visits certain Arab states,' he told AFP.

'The American secretary of state (Hillary Clinton) must also hold talks in countries in which women are systematically oppressed. The decision as to who we send as a government representative rests solely with us Germans based on our political and moral standards.'

Under a front-page headline 'His Man Makes Him Strong', the mass-market Bild newspaper on Tuesday called Mr Westerwelle, 47, and his 42-year-old partner, businessman Michael Mronz, 'Germany's top political couple' and splashed photos of the two hugging on election night.

The left-leaning daily Tageszeitung, mourning the election victory of the centre-right, tried to cheer up its readers with an ironic list of its upsides including - at number two - a gay foreign minister.

'It opens up the wonderful speculation whether and how he will be welcomed at state receptions in Saudi Arabia or Syria with his life partner. And whether Michael Mronz, together with (Merkel's husband) Joachim Sauer, will try to get out of the 'ladies' programme' at summits and state visits.'

Gay rights groups hope Mr Westerwelle will keep a pledge to punish countries with records of persecuting homosexuals. He threatened in a 2008 interview with Stern magazine to cut such states' development aid. [Source: The Straights Times] AFP | Wednesday, September 30, 2009

*No pun intended!

What to Expect from Berlin after Angela Merkel’s Return to Power
TIMES ONLINE – Analysis: For the past four years conservatives and liberals have been quietly expressing fears that Ms Merkel was a Social Democrat in sheep’s clothing, or at least in a woollen trouser suit.

Now the Chancellor has a chance to prove otherwise. The result will be a subtle change of Germany’s position in Europe.

Fuse the election manifestos of the two parties — the Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats — into a single programme and you come up with a mainland European version of progressive conservatism: there is concern for social justice, a taste for financial regulation, but also a commitment to open markets, deregulation and (when market conditions permit) privatisation.

But while some of that may suggest an affinity with a possible David Cameron government, relations with the Tories are likely to remain frosty because the new German Government is firmly committed to the Lisbon treaty.

The new Berlin Administration will almost certainly see its main friend in Europe as Nicolas Sarkozy; the Social Democrats had some reservations about the French but these are not shared by the Free Democrats.

The main loser of the new government alignment could well be Turkey. The Social Democrats have been a champion of Turkish entry into the European Union for the past 11 years, first in alliance with the Greens, and latterly in Ms Merkel’s Grand Coalition.

Now the Social Democrats are in opposition and Ankara will be faced with sceptical governments in Paris, Berlin and Rome. >>> Roger Boyes | Monday, September 28, 2009

FDP's Joker Westerwelle Shapes up for Coalition with Merkel
THE LOCAL: Guido Westerwelle, who aims to become foreign minister in a new government under Chancellor Angela Merkel, has had to shake off his “joker” image to make it in the often staid world of German politics.

The head of Germany’s biggest opposition party used to make headlines for moving into TV’s Big Brother house for a few hours, painting his party’s election goal on the soles of his shoes, and coming out of the closet.

But the 47-year-old lawyer who was often the life and soul of the party has few laughing now. The FDP’s strength will likely decide whether Merkel can win re-election with her coalition of choice in the September 27 poll.

Westerwelle’s pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), frequent partners of the conservative Christian Democrats over half a century of post-war politics, are keen to play kingmakers again.

After 11 years in the political wilderness, Westerwelle has shaken off his at times foppish image and says he is ready to be the country’s first openly gay top diplomat.

Guido Westerwelle with his partner Michael Mronz
“Of course I made some mistakes when I was young but one grows older and wiser,” he told AFP in an interview earlier this year when asked about his more memorable publicity stunts.

“But the Germans seem to see us positively—otherwise they wouldn’t have given us one of the best results in our history at the last national election.”

Since that 9.8-percent score in 2005, the FDP has seen its support soar at times to within four points of the Social Democrats, Germany’s oldest political outfit and the junior partner in Merkel’s “grand coalition.” >>> AFP | Tuesday, September 22, 2009

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An Openly Gay German Foreign Minister? : Take that, Ahmadenijad >>> Julie Bolcer | Friday, September 25, 2009