photo by AP Photo by Hermann J. Knippertz Supporters hold posters reading "Schroeder for Germany" during an election campaign event of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Bonn, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder appealed to voters Saturday to trust him to reform Germany's lame economy without dismantling its welfare state, and said he was optimistic of a comeback victory in Sept. 18 elections.

Results in for Germany's Election
By Kirsten Thomas, 10.06.05

Known as the world's third largest econonmy, Germany has an official winner of its election, but still lacks a leader.

Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel have been battling for the chancellery seat since the Sept. 18 election results were delayed. This left neither candidate with a clear majority.

However, the Oct. 2 ballot results appointed the leadership of the new German government to Merkel and the Christian Democrats (CDU).

The CDU gained another parliamentary seat on Oct. 2, providing a four-seat parliamentary lead over Schroeder and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

The Assoicated Foreign Press reports that, Schroeder did not publicly acknowledge Merkels majority win in parliament.

"We are not little boys playing cowboys and Indians. A majority is a majority," said Wolfgang Schaeuble, a leading member of the Christian Democrats.

During the two weeks of the delay the CDU and SPD participated in informal talks to discuss a possible coalition between the two parties. However in light of official ballot results the CDU has decided that no formal talks will begin until Schroeder recognizes Merkel as chancellor.

"There are no negotiations in the true sense as long as the SPD does not accept that our candidate will be chancellor," the Secretary General of the Christian Democrats, Volker Kauder, told ARD public television.

In response the SPD said, "We are standing by Gerhard Schroeder and if the CDU says on Wednesday that this question must be resolved first then there will not be any negotiations. We will just drink our tea and go home.”

The SPD shows no signs of backing down. Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement said the party still saw no reason why Merkel should lead the country.

"Why should we say that Mrs. Merkel should be chancellor ... What does she offer us," he told German local radio.

If talks don’t lead to a clear leader, Germany’s already distressed economy may be in for even greater troubles.

“Figures released last week showed the number of jobless had risen by 39,000 to 4.835 million in September, bringing the unemployment rate up to 11.7 percent from 11.6 percent,” as reported by the AFP.

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