GERMAN ELECTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19007, 7 May 1924, Page 5

GERMAN ELECTIONS

STATE OF PARTIES UNCHANGED SOCIALISTS STILL LARGEST PARTY COALITION GOVERNMENT INEVITABLE. The result of the German elections reveals that parties are much the same as in the previous Parliament. Socialists form the largest party and will be called upon to form a Government, but this will only be possible with the help of the old coalition parties.

THE NEW REICHSTAG

STRENGTH OF PARTIES. BERLIN, May 5. The results ol the elections have already made it clear that the extreme Nationalists have in no wise done as well as expected, and must be content to take a back seat in the new Reichstag. Even in an extreme Nationalist stronghold like Munich, a large number of votes went to German Nationals. It is significant that extreme Nationalists have not gained a single seat in the occupied territory. On the other hand, German Nationals, of whom the late Helfferich was the leader, and who with the Monarchist reactionaries were the opponents of the experts’ plans, have done extremely well, and will be the second strongest party in the Reichstag, with about ninety seats,. as compared with 67 previously. The Communists have done better than was expected, having nearly sixty seats, as compared with fifteen held previously. They scored heavily in parts of Berlin and in the big industrial towns in Saxony and Thuringea. Seemingly, practically every former Independent Socialist has gone over to the Communists. The People’s Party, led by Dr Streseman, has done badly, and is likely to lose scats to the Nationalists. The Catholic Centre Party and the Democrats will have about sixty and forty seats respectively as before. No important changes are expected in the other groups. Tbc position in the new Reichstag is interesting, but complicated. Certainly the majority will favour the acceptance of the experts’ reports, but a two-thirds majority' is necessary for a change in the constitution involved in the acceptance of the experts’ scheme. This is impossible without the support of Nationalists. If they remain irreconcilable opponents of the reports which is doubtful, there will be no chance of the Reichstag adopting the reports, and evil days will again fall upon Germany. PROVISIONAL FINAL RESULTS BERLIN. April 5. Provisional final results of the elections are: Ninety-nine fifty-one Communists, twenty-five ’ Democrats, sixty-one Centre Party, fifteen Bavian People’s Party, forty-four German People’s Party, ninety-three German Nationals, twenty-eight Extreme Nationals, five Hanoverians; nineteen other parties. Those elected include Prince Bismarck, Count Westarp, Ludendorff, Dernburg, Hilfferding, Marx Wirth, Streseman and Von Tirpitz. Seventy-five per cent, of the electors voted. NATIONALISTS’ LACK OF LEADERS LONDON, May 6. The Nationalists have been shaken lomcwhat in their faith that they could secure a big majority, for the policy nf resistance and the loss of Helfferich at a critical point in the campaign meant a great deal to them. Since then they have floundered hopelessly owing to lack of competent leadership, their few remaining prominent men failing to offer any alternative to the Government’s new policy. SOCIALISTS THE LARGEST PARTY COALITION GOVLTNMENT EXPECTED. Received May 6, 10.15 p.m. BERLIN, May 5. The Socialists remain the largest party, and will undoubedly be called to form a Government, which, however, can only be possible if the Socialists obtain the support of Democrats, Centre Party and the German People’s Party, but since the foregoing favour carrying out the experts’ report, it is practically certain the new Government will be a reversion to the old big Coalition, which, with about 234 supporters, will be opposed by about 216 German Nationals, Communists, extreme Nationals and minor parties. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Asn.