Vol. 21 · No. 1 · Issue 66 · Spring 2003

Werner Reutter

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Abstract

According to Jürgen Habermas, the federal election in 1998 finally "sealed" the democratic foundation of Germany and confirmed that this country belonged to the "west." Until then, the day of judgment had left the "judges" in Germany-that is, the voters-with only limited influence in coalition building and the formation of each government. Between 1949 and 1998 no federal government has totally been unsettled by elections. Changes in government were due to changes in coalitions, thus based on decisions by the parties rather than on the electorate. Insofar as the landslide victory of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance '90/Greens in the 1998 election not only reflected important changes in the party system, but it also could mean that the German electorate is going to play a more influential role in the future.