Social Democrats win Berlin elections, Pirate Party enters legislature

[FarCenter]

...

Early results indicate the SPD brining in 28.5 percent of the vote in the country's capital, which is also one of Germany's 16 states. This represents a slight drop in the SPD's popularity from the previous election in 2006.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, the Christian Democrats (CDU), improved by about 2.5 percent on their last showing in 2006 but still came in second to the SPD, polling 23.2 percent. It is the sixth of seven regional votes that the ruling party in the national government has lost or failed to gain power this year.

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The Pirate Party, however, did clear the 5-percent hurdle and will be represented for the first time in a state parliament in Germany. The Pirate Party, which campaigns for copyright reform, free wireless Internet service for all and greater internet privacy, brought in 9 percent of the vote.

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The success of the SPD means that Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, will remain in office for a third term. Wowereit, who became the first openly gay leader of a German state in 2001, is known for his popular touch and distinctive Berlin accent.

He has ruled in alliance with the Left Party for ten years but could switch allegiance to the Greens, who made gains of just over 5 percent and polled 17.5 percent. The Left Party secured 11.6 percent of the vote. A coalition with the CDU would also be possible.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15397392,00.html

[ixion]

1. Here's a good example of why we need to break the 'two' party stranglehold

this party represents around 13K people, and yet it now has a voice. That's a great method of keeping parties honest, in my opinion.