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Opposition Figure Could Lead Germany
 Angela Merkel used a clenched fist to underscore her points with the understated precision of a former scientist, saying Friday that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's government had "gambled away" voters' trust. Merkel has a strong chance to become Germany's first woman chancellor after Schroeder lost a vote of confidence in parliament in a deliberate effort to trigger early elections.The 50-year-old Merkel, who grew up in East Germany and built a career in as a researcher in quantum chemistry before switching to politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall, stumbled once or twice in her address to parliament. But she drew ample applause from conservative supporters. "Mr. Chancellor, this will naturally be an election about the country's direction, an election with the question, Will the policies be carried on like before or will there be policies again move Germany forward?" she said. Merkel's address Friday touched on themes that her Christian Democratic Union, along with their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, plan to campaign on — job creation, market freedoms and increased competition. In a nod to her former political sponsor, Merkel charged that Schroeder's government had "undone" everything accomplished by former Chancellor Helmut Kohl during his 1982-1998 government. "Never before has a government gambled away the trust of its people as this one," said Merkel. Tending toward logic and careful explanation instead of fiery rhetoric, Merkel gesticulated with open hands and an occasional fist to hammer home her points. Merkel has promised to tackle Germany's 11.6 percent jobless rate by giving companies more flexibility in firing people and setting hours. She has advocated that the regulation-clogged economy be "faster, more flexible and better," while not dismantling the safety net. In foreign affairs, many analysts think she'll get along better with the Bush administration than Schroeder did, given her criticism of the chancellor's refusal to support the Iraq war under any circumstances, though she differs with Bush by opposing full European Union membership for Turkey. Posted by: Fred 2005-07-02 |
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