Erhard’s Poll Reverse

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 17

Erhard’s Poll Reverse

(N.Z. Press Assn —Copyright) BONN, July 11. Chancellor Ludwig Erhard’s bitter attacks on coal-miners in West Germany’s largest state probably caused his Christian Democratic Party’s worst defeat at the polls in 20 years, political observers said today. The Christian Democratic Party yesterday lost control

of the legislature in the key industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia for the first time since the end of World War 11. The election results seriously damaged Dr. Erhard’s image. The Social Democratic Party won 49.5 per cent of the vote to the Christian Democrats’ 42.8 per cent and took 99 of the 200 seats in the Landtag (legislature). Dr. Erhard’s party emerged with 86 seats and the Free Democrats won 15. Dr. Erhard campaigned throughout the state, where the government has been closing coal mines with the hope of diversifying North RhineWestphalia’s manufacturing potential to meet the challenge of the European Common Market. Dr. Erhard answered frequent heckling by coal miners at election rallies by calling them “rabble,” “hoot owls” and “ruffians.” Voting Shift The shift in voting to the Social Democrats was 6 per cent for the state as a whole and up to 11 per cent in some areas. The defeat of the Christian Democrats did not affect Dr. Erhard’s government but was a severe blow to his political prestige. Leaders of both parties said Dr. Erhard's jibes at the

miners (“ruffians who would have died in their diapers had it not been for me and my economic policies”) led to his defeat. The West Berlin Mayor, Mr Willy Brandt national chairman of the Social Democrats, said he considered the election results to be a rejection of Dr. Erhard's national policies. The neo-Nazi National Democratic Party apparently decided it had no chance in the North Rhine-Westphalia voting and did not enter. The party apparently decided to save its strength for what it believes will be a more fruitful election next November in Bavaria.