German elections

three weeks ago, I prepared a news feature about the German elections for Current Biology. Back then, the result seemed to be wide open, with polls predicting 48 % for both the CDU/CSU/FDP block on the right and the SPD/Green/Left block on the left of the spectrum. Accordingly, I had a good look at all options and at what the five parties had to offer for science and the environment.

Sunday night, though, the result turned out much clearer than anticipated. The rightwing block had 48.5 % in total, only slightly more than expected, but the leftwing block was down to 45.5 % (not sure where those 2 % went), leaving a clear majority for Merkel's preferred option, a coalition with the FDP.

Now I'm glad that I covered quite a few of the FDP's policies in my piece, mainly because they were in stark contrast to the emerging consensus between most of the other parties. My article is now out in

Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 18, R831-R832, 29 September 2009
Uncertainty principles
The general elections in Germany have been more open than ever, with five main parties likely to be in the new Bundestag. So what are their policies for science, and the environment?

abstract and limited access to PDF file