who is the winner?

Germany voted today. The campains were intense and lasted up to the last minute. Polls had been predicting for months that the CDU, presently in opposition, would achieve a clear victory and be able to form a coalition with the FDP. The ruling SPD was expected to landslide lose. They were out before the election began. To everyone's surprise though, the SPD lost only marginally and is not much behind the CDU. A major upset, a huge surprise, a result that no one expected. No party did really what the polls had predicted. Voters didn't do what they were supposed to.

First to grab the mike and make an announcement was Franz Müntefering, the head of the SPD. He stood there with a frozen face and no hint of a smile. His party had lost the election, Schröder will not remain chancellor. What he said made my jaws drop - I couldn't believe my ears. This guy was celebrating victory. The SPD's victory. Did he misread the numbers? Did he change party affiliations? No, according to him, Chancellor Schröder got a clear mandate from voters, and he will stay chancellor. It wasn't a slip either. He repeated this statement several times to furious cheers. There was no trace of irony in his voice, he impersonated the smug victor. Still, he hadn't won.

In the CDU headquarters, Angela Merkel stepped to the mike just a couple of minutes later. She looking extremely frazzled. Hell, she looked devastated. She tried to convey optimism and a sense of victory but failed as miserably as she had in the polls this day. The earily muted "Angie Angie" calls surely didn't lift her spirits, nor did Stoiber towering over her with an blank face. Towards the end of her speech I was very afraid she would start crying. She did not at all look like the future chancellor.

But what is going to happen. Two options are circulating. Most obvious is a grand coalition between CDU and SPD. These two would have an absolute majority in both houses of parliament and the most experienced politicians to attempt to solve Germany's problems. They also have unreconcilable differences. Franz Müntefering's speech didn't help either. It's not going to happen. The second option is a so-called traffic light coalition between SPD (red), the Greens and the FPD (yellow). Not good because it wouldn't really lead to change, and change is the one thing that the country needs.

I know a better solution, in fact the only solution. CDU and FDP like to go together, but won't have the absolute majority. They have to ask the Greens into their boat. A heretic suggestion, maybe, as the Green have traditionally aligned themselves with the SPD. But programs of CDU and Greens are not so dramatically different. When I tested the parties on the web, the three that came out on top were CDU, Greens and FDP. Will anyone tell them please to get their act together.