Iceland’s Social Democrats win most votes in election, but promise coalition government

October 1st, 2009 Romania gov't collapses as coalition partner quitsBUCHAREST, Romania — Romania's coalition government collapsed Thursday after nine ministers from the Social Democrats quit to protest the firing of the interior minister for comments about possible election fraud. Social Democratic Party leader Mircea Geoana said the ministers resigned "in solidarity" with Dan Nica, a party member fired by Prime Minister Emil Boc on Monday over a statement he made about potential fraud in the upcoming Nov.

September 30th, 2009 Merkel's rival admits 'bitter defeat' in voteBERLIN — The challenger to Chancellor Angela Merkel, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of the Social Democrats, has conceded defeat in Germany's election. Steinmeier told supporters Sunday: "There is no talking around it: this is a bitter defeat." Projections show that Steinmeier's party — which has been in the German government for the past 11 years — is headed for its worst parliamentary election result since World War II.

September 30th, 2009 Polls; Merkel on track to win 2nd term in GermanyBERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel looked set to romp into second term and form a new center-right government after Sunday's national election, while her center-left rival conceded that his party had suffered "a bitter defeat." Merkel, a conservative, was seeking to end her "grand coalition" with the center-left Social Democrats of challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier and form a government with the pro-business Free Democrats instead. Both the ARD and ZDF television networks forecast that Merkel was on track to get her wish — helped by a very strong showing for the Free Democrats.

September 30th, 2009 Merkel claims victory in German electionBERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel has claimed victory for a new center-right government in Germany's general election. A beaming Merkel told supporters after Sunday's vote that "we have achieved something great.

September 30th, 2009 Exit polls: Merkel riding high in German electionBERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on track to win a second term and form a new center-right government in Sunday's election and her center-left rivals were headed for a historic defeat, exit polls indicated. Merkel, a conservative, was seeking to end her "grand coalition" with the center-left Social Democrats of challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier and form a government with the pro-business Free Democrats instead.

September 25th, 2009 Poll: German election outcome tightBERLIN — A poll published Friday underlined expectations of a tight outcome in Germany's weekend election, finding that Chancellor Angela Merkel's preferred center-right alliance is level with its rivals. While Merkel is widely expected to remain chancellor and her conservatives to be the biggest party, the key question is whether she will be able to end her "grand coalition" of left and right and form a new center-right government.

September 21st, 2009 German conservatives push tax relief ahead of voteBERLIN — A conservative ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel called Monday for quick tax relief if Germany's election produces a new center-right government, while her main rivals said tax cuts would be irresponsible. Merkel hopes to break out of her "grand coalition" with the center-left Social Democrats in Sunday's vote and take her conservatives into a new government with the pro-business Free Democrats.

September 18th, 2009 Polls: Merkel on track for new German coalitionBERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel drew encouragement Friday from polls that showed her on track to form a new center-right government after Germany's national election, and pushed her agenda of tax relief to stimulate growth. The conservative Merkel wants to break free from her "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats, led by her rival, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, after the Sept.

September 6th, 2009 Germany's Merkel launches re-election campaignBERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel has kicked off her conservative party's campaign for the Sept. 27 German election by calling for a center-right coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats.

August 31st, 2009 Merkel confident for Germany's Sept 27. electionBERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she is confident of forming a new center-right government after the nationwide election Sept.

August 30th, 2009 Merkel's party loses ground in German votesBERLIN — Voters inflicted losses on Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives in state elections Sunday, a setback weeks before a national election that she hopes will produce a new center-right government. Merkel's center-left rival in the Sept.

June 8th, 2009 Merkel encouraged by EU election victoryBERLIN — Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrated beating her center-left opponents by a huge margin in European Parliament voting and said Monday that the outcome bolstered her party's chances in upcoming German national elections. The Social Democrats of her challenger for the chancellery, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, sought to pick up the pieces from their worst post-World War II performance in a nationwide vote and insisted they wouldn't change their political course.

April 26th, 2009 Iceland's leftist coalition win general electionREYKJAVIK — Iceland's leftist coalition was confirmed on Sunday as the winner of the country's general election — a blow for the pro-business Independence Party that many blamed for the collapse of the country's banking system. Results showed that a left-wing coalition made up of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Movement won 34 out of the 63 seats in Parliament.

April 26th, 2009 Early signs of win for Iceland's left-wing partiesREYKJAVIK — Iceland's leftist government was headed Saturday for a strong victory in the country's general election, a rejection of the pro-business Independence Party that ran the government last fall when the banking system failed, preliminary results show. Early results showed that a left-wing coalition made up of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Movement has won 35 out of the 63 seats in parliament.

April 24th, 2009 Facts and Figures on Iceland's ElectionsFacts and figures on Saturday's Icelandic parliamentary elections, called after the former government collapsed in January. — WHEN: Polls are open from 9 a.m.