In a country with stronger parties, the opposition might be set to sweep to power.
Proponents argue that this would have created stronger parties and reduced corruption.
"Stronger parties are readier to make compromises," said the CDU's general secretary, Hermann Gröhe.Dumping Mr Westerwelle looks like a way out but may not be.
He wants a slimmed-down single-chamber Congress, stronger parties, and an end to the scam which sees election-winners ceding their seats to alternates who also qualify for generous salaries and pensions.
And then we can convince the other parties that it is extremely important to carry out a political reform, so that we have stronger parties and a stronger Congress, so that whoever sits in this chair can make more substantial agreements with the political parties, the party leaderships.
Cajoling them to polling booths, as she is likely to do if she runs, would make a second round all but inevitable, says João Castro Neves of Eurasia Group, a consultancy.Marina's choiceBoth Mr Neves and the president boast bigger war chests and stronger parties.
