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True, but due to proportional representation, smaller parties play a much larger role in German politics than, say, the UK or the US. Just a shift of about three percent from the current coalition of CDU and FDP to the SPD and Greens in the upcoming election would end Merkel's reign. And the NSA story might be just the event that moves those three percent from the current coalition to the opposition.

Yes, if anything the Greens as the third largest party play a much bigger role in German politics than someone from an American or Commonwealth background would intuitively expect.

Most probably the minister of foreign affairs would be coming from the green party in such a case. Though that might change their rethoric a bit.

That's definitly right, but the demand of the greens is all over the media here. I don't think, that Snowden will really get safe haven in Europe, but it's nice to see that a lot of Germans would approve it. The outrage reaches the mainstream.

For context, the first and second party got 34% and 23% of votes respectively.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_federal_election,_2009