Four More Years for Schröder?

It seems that plunging popularity, a moribund economy and painful attempts to reform Germany’s health and pension systems are not enough to sour Gerhard Schröder’s taste for the chancellorship.

In an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Franz Müntefering, a leading figure in the current government, said there was no question over who would stand as candidate for the Social Democrats (SPD) in federal elections in 2006.

“For us, naturally, Gerhard Schröder, I assume,” he said. “And he will remain Federal Chancellor, because he’ll win the election.”

If he does run and hopes to win, he has some catching up to do. A survey conducted by public broadcaster ZDF on August 22 shows support for the SPD has fallen to 28 percent. Support for the opposition CDU is at 48 percent.

"In half a year's time, the whole reform package will be visible -- then we will win back the lost trust," Muentefering told the newspaper. "We shouldn't always focus on the latest figure -- everything will look different by the 2006 elections."

Changed his mind

After Schröder moved into the chancellery in 1998, he repeatedly told the press that he didn’t want to stay in the job for more than two terms. “Eight years are a good length of time,” the chancellor often said.

But over the past few months, Schröder has left the question open. Up to now, leading SPD politicians have been unwilling to speculate on the Chancellor’s future candidacy.

Ms. Merkel for the opposition?

Müntefering said he didn’t think the head of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Angela Merkel, would be Schröder’s opponent in 2006.

“As far as the [CDU] goes, I suspect that Ms. Merkel will be invited to breakfast sometime in January of 2006, and then once again have to forego the candidacy,” he said, referring to the breakfast meeting Merkel had with Christian Social Union head Edmund Stoiber before the 2002 election campaign during which it was decided he would run against Schröder instead of her.