Scheel scores in Hesse

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 19

Scheel scores in Hesse

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WIESBADEN, Nov. 9. The Social Democrats of the Chancellor (Mr Brandt) have lost their absolute majority in the Hesse State Parliament, but the result of yesterday’s state election is seen as a boost for the Federal coalition in Bonn. The Opposition Christian Democrats made substantial gains in yesterday’s vote. But the vital feature was the performance of the Lib-

eral Free Democrats—junior partners in the Bonn coalition, who confounded preelection forecasts by winning 10.1 per cent of the vote for 11 of the 110 seats in the State Parliament. The Social Democrats dropped 5 per cent on their 1966 share of the poll, to win 53 seats; the Christian Democrats gained 12.4 per cent, to take 46 seats. The results spell both success and salvation for the Free Democrats, who recently seemed on the verge of disintegration, and was something of a personal triumph for tire Liberal Party leader, the Foreign Minister (Mr Walter Scheel). Mr Scheel has been the instrument of Chancellor Brandt’s drive for better relations with Eastern Europe, which has been under heavy fire by the Opposition. He led the final negotiations for Bonn’s non-aggression pact with Moscow and is at present in Poland, striving to conclude a treaty to bring back to normal" West Germany’s war-shattered relations with Poland. Mr Brandt telephoned his congratulations to Mr Scheel last night. The poll bounced the extreme Right-Wing National Democratic Party out of the Hesse Parliament. With less than half its 1966 votes, the N.P.D. failed to meet the 5 per cent minimum vote-level to qualify for representation, and lost eight seats held in the outgoing parliament. The three main parties all

expressed satisfaction with the results. As the Hesse Social Democrat Premier (Mr Albert Osswald) , prepared for a local coalition with the Liberals, the Bonn coalition partners prepared for an even tougher test of strength in Bavaria, where state elections are to be held on November 22. The Opposition Christian Social Union rules in Bavaria and the party chairman (Mr Franz Josef Strauss) promises to make the going difficult for the Social Democrats and Free Democrats.