CDU-SPD coalition?

An opinion poll on Thursday showed conservative challenger Angela Merkel does not have enough support to form a center-right coalition, even though her Christian Democrats (CDU) remains the strongest party.

The poll, by Infratest dimap for ARD public television, was the third this week to show that Merkel's lead has shrunk since a television debate with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Sunday.

It adds to signs she may be forced into a so-called "grand coalition" with Schroeder's center-left Social Democrats (SPD), an alliance that financial markets fear would hinder Merkel from pushing through reforms of the labor market and tax system.

Awww... poor Angela. It seems as if she won't be getting everything she wanted. I guess we can count out Germany in economic prosperity for the next few years- there's no way in hell CDU and SPD are going to get along. Maybe SPD can get their act together in that time.

Another interesting note:

The ARD survey showed Schroeder's approval ratings have risen sharply, with 54 percent of those questioned saying they would vote for him if the vote were for the main candidate alone rather than a party. Only 35 percent said they preferred Merkel in a personality contest.

Where are the rightwing "democracy" chanters in all of this? Isn't this anti-democratic? I mean, the people are not allowed to elect their leader without his/her whole party tagging along. It is a good system. It gets rid of that "he's someone I could have a beer with" vote. It also allows for other points of view with the multiple parties. Our two party system is quite flawed and is most likely the reason Americans are so apathetic.