Итоги выборов в Федеративной Республике Германия и перспективы германо-белорусских отношений

Abstract

The article "The Election Results in the Federative Republic of Germany and German-Belarusian Relations Prospects" outlines the main results of the elections to the German Bundesgtag which took place in September, 1998, citing also their statistics. The most important of them are: the victory of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (40,9 % of voters and 298 delegates in Bundestag), the defeat of the Christian Democratic Union (35,2 % of voters and 246 delegates in Bundestag) and also the appearance of the Party of Democratic Socialism of Germany on the political arena (5,1 % of voters and 35 delegations). The victory of social democrats has created a completely new political situation in Europe in which all four leading European economies (treat Britain, France, Italy, Germany) are ruled by the governments of the left centre. The article presents the main reasons for the CDU defeat and reflects the dynamics of popularity decrease of H. Kohl and his party. It devotes much attention to the political profile of H. Schroeder and his views on many European issues. The article recognizes his pragmatism especially in the economic sphere and stresses his readiness to claim "a special opinion" on many topical issues in Europe (relations with NATO, nuclear disarmament, formation of the EU budget etc.). The article analyses the main aspects of German policy towards the East, Russian-German and Belarusian German relations in particular. It mentions the main agreements between Germany and the Republic of Belarus concluded in the 90-s and also other measures of activization of relations between the two countries. The article concludes by stressing the willingness of new government of Germany to expand and retain its leadership among the countries of Western Europe. This situation provides more favourable prospects for the Belarusian-German relations.