Indeed, after Lafontaine’s “The Left” party merged with eastern Germany’s ex-communists, it secured a firm base among voters, changing the political equilibrium in the country. Faced with the prospect of losing members and voters to the new party, the SPD simply cannot afford to continue Schröder’s reform agenda.
许多基督教民主党人可能梦想着在下届选举中与自由党和绿党建立新的联盟。这个联盟将能够实施连绿党都愿意接受的福利国家和劳力市场的必要改革。然而，基督教民主党的领导层正准备以更社会化的姿态出现，从而在推迟必要改革的过程中争取更多的选民。在这样一个政治诡计之中，德国正逐渐断送自己的未来。