Cracks in the Coalition - How State Election Campaigns are Shaking the Government - pp 22.01.2008

Hessen's CDU state premier Roland Koch has made youth crime a focus of his election campaign, calling for tougher measures to deal with immigrant youngsters who tangle with the law. Meanwhile, SPD parliamentary group leader Peter Struck has accused him of secretly rejoicing at the fact that youth crime has at last provided him with a campaign theme. Upcoming elections in Hessen and Lower Saxony are sending ripples of unease through the Berlin coalition. So much so, that the Chancellor saw fit to stage a news conference in Berlin to convince the media that all's well with the SPD, in the cabinet at least. But are things really as harmonious as she'd have us believe?