Chancellor will survive the defeat

Elections in Germany's most densely populated state, North Rhine-Westphalia, have always been of key significance for the Federal Republic, but Sunday's vote won't hurt the chancellor, the conservative daily Lidové noviny writes: "Whereas seven years ago the SPD defeat was the beginning of the end for then chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Angela Merkel will survive the debacle suffered by her CDU on Sunday unscathed. Not only because Merkel - unlike Schröder - doesn't have an agreement with Russian President Putin over a cozy place on the Gazprom management. Merkel is not subject to any such inner-party pressure. The example of the SPD, which still hasn't come up with a viable replacement for Schröder yet, is sufficient warning. But above all Merkel has a firm grip on the complex situation in Europe and the German economy. Merkel and the SPD are essentially in agreement regarding European policy. They would have no problem forming a grand coalition. ... Merkel will remain chancellor and the EU can breathe a sigh of relief."

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