Schroeder plots cours for vote of confidence

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met today with his party and legislative leaders to smooth out a strategy for tomorrow’s vote of confidence – a tricky constitutional manoeuvre intended to bring about early national elections.

Schroeder must juggle two moves: deliberately lose a vote of confidence by having his own legislators abstain, and simultaneously launch a re-election campaign, hoping to convince voters to renew his mandate for tough economic reforms.