◼ Angela Merkel vowed that she would deliver more “successful years for Germany” as exit polls indicated a commanding lead for her party over the main opposition. - Jeevan Vasagar, Berlin/The Telegraph ◼ Via Drudge
◼ German election triumph for 'Merkelism' - france24
A stunning election triumph has left German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the apex of her power, humiliated foes and old allies alike, and rung in what one newspaper dubbed "the era of Merkelism".
The strongest conservative poll result in two decades was a thundering popular endorsement for the leader who is dubbed "Mummy" at home and often called the world's most powerful woman.
◼ Biggest Victory Since Kohl's Reunification Vote - Tony Czuczka & Brian Parkin/Bloomberg
◼ MOCKED LEFT FOR FOOD POLICE - Josh Gerstein/Politico
The elections set to take place here in Germany Sunday are expected to turn largely on the country's solid economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel's handling of the European debt crisis and social issues like women's role in the work force. But add to that plate one more thing: Germans don't want the government telling them what to eat.
In what could be a cautionary tale for First Lady Michelle Obama's efforts to tweak Americans' diets, Germans look set to punish the Green Party for urging that public cafeterias go meat-free on a designated "Veggie Day" each week in order to help the environment and reduce cruelty to animals. Borrowing colorfully from English, German newspaper Bild described public reaction to the idea as a "shitstorm."
At her party's final campaign rally on Saturday, Merkel joined in, slamming the Green proposal.
"You will never hear from the Christian Democratic Union party when you should eat meat and when you shouldn't," Merkel said to loud applause from her supporters and campaign workers in the Tempodrom theater.
"I grew up in a Christian house. We didn't eat meat on Fridays. I think every restaurant should have a vegetarian dish, but we are a party confident people can manage their own lives," the German prime minister added. "We are confident people will live a reasonable life and we don't want to deprive them of this opportunity."
◼ RESULTS - bilde.de
◼ Euro Gains Against Dollar - John Detrixhe & Candice Zachariahs/Bloomberg
◼ Liberals in Retreat ...It’s worth examining those results in such widely separated places as Australia, Norway, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.... and now, Germany.
