Prior to the parliamentary elections of last September, Schröder repeatedly declared his opposition to the war. At numerous campaign rallies, he described any military action against Iraq as an “adventure” in which Germany, under his leadership, would never participate. In a newspaper interview given in early September he said, “The points I put forward against an intervention remain, regardless of any decision by the U.N.”
This rejection of war decided the elections. Two months prior to election day the SPD was lagging far behind the Christian Democrats (CDU) in the polls. But the Social Democrats rapidly caught up after they took an anti-war stance. The SPD and the Greens ultimately won the election by a narrow margin.
Since then, Schröder and Fischer have been gradually backing off from their former position. Before the elections Schröder announced there would be “no involvement” of Germany in the war. After the elections this was amended to “no active involvement”.
He then assured the U.S. that, in the case of war, American bases in Germany would be available “as a matter of course” and his government would permit U.S. war planes to use German airspace. Prior to the elections he dodged these questions.
This rejection of war decided the elections. Two months prior to election day the SPD was lagging far behind the Christian Democrats (CDU) in the polls. But the Social Democrats rapidly caught up after they took an anti-war stance. The SPD and the Greens ultimately won the election by a narrow margin.
Since then, Schröder and Fischer have been gradually backing off from their former position. Before the elections Schröder announced there would be “no involvement” of Germany in the war. After the elections this was amended to “no active involvement”.
He then assured the U.S. that, in the case of war, American bases in Germany would be available “as a matter of course” and his government would permit U.S. war planes to use German airspace. Prior to the elections he dodged these questions.