Hamburg CDU considers rule with Greens

Hamburg could become the first German state to be ruled by a coalition of Christian Democrats and Greens after a regional election, 24 February 2008, gave neither centre-left nor centre-right an outright majority.

Analysts said such a 'black-green' government, the first in German history, would serve as a test of the two parties’ ability to work together ahead of the 2009 general election, when the CDU can no longer afford to rely only on the FDP as a coalition partner.

Deutsche Welle, 25.2.08: Conservatives Suffer Setback in Hamburg State Poll http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3146815,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 25.2.08: New Political Alliances Raise Tensions in Merkel's Government http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3148881,00.html

Germany: Embassy, London: Regional elections in Hamburg, February 2008 http://www.london.diplo.de/Vertretung/london/en/03/News__and__features/2008/Elections__08/Hamburg__seite.html

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