The Hindu : Schroeder, Fischer to run for third term

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 03, 2003

International

International

Schroeder, Fischer to run for third term

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS SEPT. 2. The German Chancellor and leader of the Social Democrats, Gerhard Schroeder, and his Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, leader of the Green Party, have indicated that they would lead their "Red-Green" coalition's bid for a third term in 2006.

Mr. Schroeder had stated in the past that he had no intention of running for a third term and would "call it a day" at the end of the present term. Mr Schroeder's supporters argue that his turnaround is not a case of political ambition, but a decision born out of his quest to see through the implementation of the economic and social reforms detailed under "Agenda 2010".

In late August, an unexpected surge in the German economic indicators fuelled hopes of a recovery in euro zone's largest economy. The desperately-hoped-for economic turnaround may take place by early next year. This could pave the way for the launch of a far-reaching agenda of economic, social and labour reforms.

The Government has outlined the parameters of the proposed reforms but Mr. Schroeder has yet to take a daring initiative to launch the programme.

The bold reforms could usher in a healthy economic growth of two per cent in contrast to the negative growth at present. With the latest indicators pointing to a revival in Germany's economic growth, there is also a marked improvement in Mr. Schroeder's popularity ratings.

Another factor working in favour of the Chancellor is that the Opposition Christian Democrats have failed to identify a popular candidate to challenge his leadership.

The Chancellor is thus seen as opting for a third term of office for the right reasons, that is, seeing through his Agenda 2010 package of reforms.

The decision by Mr. Schroeder and Mr. Fischer holds significance for both Germany and the European Union. Mr. Fischer is a widely admired and respected leader in European circles and rated as a great communicator.

He has been viewed as a favourite candidate or the post of the E.U.'s Foreign Minister after the adoption of the new Union Constitution in December. Given this background, Mr Fischer's decision to opt for a third term of office as Germany's Foreign Minister has come as surprise to many. Mr Fischer is an ardent European federalist. As Foreign Minister of Germany, which opposed the Iraq war, it is suggested that he may be handicapped in cementing diplomatic and political relations with the Bush administration in the United States.

But, in the emerging scenario of American forces getting bogged down in the quagmire of post-war Iraq, Mr. Fischer will have an important role to play by building trans-Atlantic bridges to narrow the Euro-American divide over Iraq.

Mr Fischer's recent tour of the U.S. was successful with the German leader effectively conveying the "European perception" on the Iraq war to the American people and establishment.

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Schroeder, Fischer to run for third term