From: Gene McAloon 

On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 22:01:43 +0200, Phil Payne
 wrote:

>> But at least if the present trend holds up, they might possibly become the
>> leading opposition party. If nothing else, that would tend to force Labour a
bit
>> to the left from its present position as Maggie's ideological successor.
>
>That at least would be worthwhile.
>
>But I _do_ expect the Lib-Dems to make significant gains in Parliament - to
>the point where they may hold a position smilar to the FDP in Germany in
>the 1980s.  The German tradition is for the larger party to provide the
>Prime Minister and Home Secretary, and for the minority party in the
>coalition to provide the Foriegn Secretary.
>
>Now _that_ would be fun.

Ah yes, the FDP under, what was his name, Genschler? I recall he decided to pull
out of his coalition with the Social Democrats and into a coalition with
the Christian Democrats.

Suddenly a change of government. No elections, nothing but one ass trying to get
himself a job as foreign minister, which he got.

Reminds of the equally self-centered Perez in Israel who agreed to a unity
government with the Likud just so he could have a high office again.

Coalition governments are a travesty of democracy and almost inevitable
under the idiotic proportional representation system. Yet, the Canadians
are thinking seriously about adopting that idiocy.

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