German Opposition eyes 2/3's majority

Christian Social Democrats, the Christian Social Union, and the Free Democrats are looking forward to a 46 seat hold on the upper house. As Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung says, "With this majority, it could block every legislative proposal made by the coalition that passes through the Bundesrat." They need to win in the upcoming Saar elections in the first week of September, then follow up two weeks later with wins in Saxony as well as achieve an upset win in Brandenburg. This will set them up to steal a seat in either the Schleswig-Holstein or North Rhine-Westphalia elections. Should the Christian Democrats and their allies get two thirds of the seats in the Bundesrat by 2005, it will certainly suggest a change in the top spot in 2006 when Schröder's term is up.