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Left disappointed: Die Linke disaster barely averted in German elections
The Left party’s policy of going easy on the SPD, the Greens and its own principles backfired disastrously, writes VICTOR GROSSMAN
Die Linke supporters

GERMANY’S long election campaign, full of ups and downs, marked the end of 16 more or less placid years with Angela Merkel, 67, and her “Christian double party” (CDU and CSU) known as the “Union” (though the Christian Democratic Union’s Bavarian component, the Christian Social Union, stays somewhat separate). 

Until now it had joined up with the Social Democrats (SPD) as increasingly uncomfortable junior partners. 

But now, without Merkel, her unlucky Union followers ended up with the worst vote in their history (24.1 per cent) and an embarrassing second place.

A threesome, but with whom?

Left disappointed

Why the Die Linke disaster?

Bright spots

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