Second term , 2002 – 2005 Throughout the build-up to the 2002 German election , the Social Democrats and the Green Party trailed the centre-right candidate Edmund Stoiber until the catastrophe caused by rising floodwater in Germany gave him a chance to monopolise the media and save his poll ratings . Lastly , his popular opposition to a war in Iraq dominated campaigning in the run-up to the polls . At 22 September vote , he secured another four-year term , with a narrow nine-seat majority ( down from 21 )
rising floodwater in Germany
2002 European floods
Gerhard Schröder