Broken banks feel the pressure of Schröder’s populist flood

What’s red, green and disliked by most Germans? Answer: the new – or old – coalition government. In fact, it’s something of a mystery who voted for Gerhard Schröder. Most Frankfurters grimace at the mere mention of his name. Just as when Bush won the US election, it’s as if Germany has had a momentary lapse of concentration and lumbered itself with a government it didn’t really want.

For how could it want Schröder? As more than one political analyst puts it: “This is the worst possible result for Germany.”