05/10/2005
Al-Akhbar Newspaper 2005/OCTOBER /05
Last September’s German general elections ended as never before, and coalitions will prove decisive to determine the name of the next German chancellor. Germany is going through hard times, with considerable economic and social problems affecting the country. Egypt, for its part, is waiting to see what the future holds for this European country, with an eye to their bilateral relations. (Available in Arabic – German in PDF )
Last September’s German general elections ended as never before, as the margin between the two main rival parties was too narrow to guarantee a clear-cut majority in Parliament for any of them. Coalitions will prove decisive to determine the name of the next German chancellor. The electoral platform of each of the two rival parties was topped by the problems affecting the German economy. Unemployment is rising, while the government finds it more and more expensive to provide health care to the elderly. There are also considerable problems when it comes to heavy industry and the privatization of state-owned institutions, although successful examples and projects can be mentioned in this regard. Egypt, for its part, is waiting to see what the future holds for this European country, with an eye to their bilateral relations.
This year, Egypt held presidential elections at the same time as Germany’s voters went to the poll to choose their next chancellor. In Egypt President Mubarak won at the first round, while in Germany none of the two main candidates won a comfortable majority in Parliament. Negotiations to form a coalition government there are still underway. However, no matter who takes up the Chancellery, German-Egyptian relations will remain strong. (Available in Arabic – German in PDF )