Germany's political parties gear up for key regional ballots - je 07.01.2008 08

Here in Germany, political parties are gearing up for a series of important state elections - four of the sixteen states, including Bavaria - go to the polls this year, with Hamburg kicking off voting on the 24th of January. National issues are expected to play an important role in the campaigns, with juvenile crime and a nationwide minimum wage topping the agenda. +++SYN-MAZ+++