Jamaica coalition 2709343 188242654 2008-01-31T21:58:22Z 128.196.208.15 made intro somewhat clearer [[Image:Flag of Jamaica.svg|thumb|150px|[[Flag of Jamaica|Jamaica's national flag]]]] '''Jamaica coalition''' ([[German language|German]]: ''Jamaika-Koalition''; also known as the '''Jamaica alliance''', '''Jamaica traffic light''', '''black traffic light''' or '''Schwampel''') is a term in German politics, where it describes a potential coalition among the parties of the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]]/[[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|Christian Social Union]] (CDU/CSU), [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP), and the [[Alliance '90/The Greens|Green Party]]. The term refers to an association between the symbolic colors of the parties in such a coalition — black for the CDU/CSU; yellow for the FDP; and green for the Green Party — and the colors of the flag of [[Jamaica]]. After the [[German federal election, 2005|German federal election in 2005]], this coalition became mathematically possible and was initially discussed. Because of significant differences between the platforms of the Greens and the other parties, its plausibility was up for debate. FDP leaders had stated that they would rather remain in opposition than form a coalition with the SPD or the Greens; outgoing Green leader [[Joschka Fischer]] dismissed the possibility as well, saying, "Can you really see [[Angela Merkel]] and [[Edmund Stoiber]] sitting round the table in dreadlocks? This is more our style. It's impossible".[http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,2763,1573905,00.html] On [[October 10]], [[2005]], officials indicated that negotiations between the SPD and CDU/CSU had been successful and a [[Grand Coalition]] would be formed, in which Merkel would be Chancellor but the SPD would have the majority of posts in the government. The Green party was not included, which shelves the idea of a Jamaica coalition for the time being. === Black traffic light === The expression ''Black traffic light'' (German: ''Schwarze Ampel'' or the [[portmanteau word]] ''Schwampel'') refers to the classic [[traffic light coalition]], an alliance between the SPD (red), FDP (yellow), and the Greens, together whose symbolic colors match the colors of most German traffic lights. In a black traffic light, the CDU's color black would replace the SPD's red. This coalition has already governed at the state level in [[Brandenburg]] and [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]]. The first known appearance of the short form ''Schwampel'' was in the [[die tageszeitung]] newspaper (Bremen edition) on [[October 4]], [[1991]]. === Usage of "Jamaica Coalition" in English === The [http://www.moh.gov.jm/Books_launch.htm Jamaica Coalition on the Rights of the Child (JCRC)] is a [[UNICEF]] sponsored program in Jamaica for protection of children's rights. [[Category:Politics of Germany]] [[da:Jamaica-koalition]] [[de:Jamaika-Koalition]] [[fr:Coalition jamaïcaine]] [[no:Jamaica-koalisjon]] [[pl:Koalicja jamajska]]