- Title: GERMANY : OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRATS HOLD LAST RALLY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION
- Date: 14th October 1994
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (OCTOBER 14, 1994) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (SPD) SUPPORTERS ARRIVING FOR RALLY 0.04 2. HAS,SV SPD LEADER RUDOLPH SCHARPING ENTERING HALL 0.12 3. GV SUPPORTERS CLAPPING 0.15 4. SV/PAN/LV SCHARPING ON STAGE WAVING TO SUPPORTERS (3 SHOTS) 0.29 5. SV SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER INGMAR CAAR
- Embargoed: 29th October 1994 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Reuters ID: LVAB4UXYTRN0JJDAR2N3IIHQY37N
- Story Text: Germany's opposition Social Democrats (SPD), at their final rally before Sunday's general election, attacked Chancellor Helmut Kohl on Friday (October 14), saying his time was finally up.
At an ice hockey arena in Berlin's working class Wedding district, SPD Leader Rudolf Scharping told 4,000 enthusiastic supporters it was time to "throw Kohl out, we don't need him any more. In 48 hours Kohl will be finished. After 12 years it's about time." Swedish Prime Minister Ingmar Caarlson attended the rally.
In his address, Scharping attacked neo-nazis, saying that "whoever sets other people's houses on fire, or who damages their health is a rat who belongs in jail." He added that their mental and political forerunners must not be allowed into the nation's parliament.
Scharping said he wanted a fair and peaceful Germany and "a steady home for Kohl in his home in Oggersheim".
Despite the SPD optimism, most polls have put Kohl's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their liberal Free Democrat (FDP) allies narrowly ahead.
An opinion poll on Friday showed Kohl's government leading by just a single percentage point over the combined opposition.
Sunday's election could hinge on the turnout -- the coalition is expected to benefit if a high proportion of the country's 60.2 million voters cast their ballots -- and the performance of small parties.
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