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Europe
Opposition Figure Could Lead Germany
2005-07-02
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

#13  During my short 8 years of living in Germany, and loving almost every day of it, I did notice that very little is accomplished by the the government other than the typical political ranting one might hear from lets say in Haiti. More is done to promote the economy and quality of life by the average German on the strasse than any of their questionable political leaders. I decided not to use fuhrers to not offend my pals there. The volk am die strassen clean the walks & street without government mandates and drink as much bier as they can afford to keep the economy running along, and eat at every opportunity. These 3 small examples are far outnumbered by other efforts there. One thing many Americans miss out on is dialouge with the regular guy & gal there on how they view their government when they are not criticizing ours... whick is more fun for them to take their minds off their own problems. Angela Merkel will probably climb that political ladder and end end up like all the rest... hamstrung from the time she gets sworn in by the lefties and neo-conservs. But... vielen gluck to her anyways.
Posted by: Ebbolutle Glomoter8655   2005-07-02 20:52  

#12  Before I come off as too much of an asshole myself, I should add that in the circles I grew up in, "asshole" was a linguistic shortcut for, "Dammit, you confident asshole, you know what you're talking about and now I look stupid!"
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-07-02 20:26  

#11  Oh, but Frank, there's nothing kneejerk about it -- that's part of what we love so about you! ;-P
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-07-02 20:11  

#10  hope he doesn't TGA - best wishes and good luck for Ms. Merkel! I may sound like a kneejerk asshole when I call for bringing our troops home (what the hell, truth is, I am a kneejerk asshole!) I just want a different German-American relationship than I see now, and frankly, I like the US positions, so who to change? Buh-bye Schroeder. Will Mr. Defense Minister get the push too?
Posted by: Frank G   2005-07-02 19:01  

#9  TGA, and he also got a boost from President Bush, being quoted in his speech on Tuesday night!
(of course, the other man Bush quoted was OBL, but nevermind.)
Go Angela Merkel!
Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro   2005-07-02 17:22  

#8  He can still do a lot of damage as a lame duck
Posted by: True German Ally   2005-07-02 17:15  

#7  After the referendum for the EU Chirac has become a walking dead.
Posted by: JFM   2005-07-02 16:55  

#6  The problem with tax cuts is that Germany isn't fully sovereign in that respect..it has to adhere to the criteria of Maastricht.
Tax cuts would boost the economy but they would, at least for some time, make the deficit soar. The US can do that much easier than Germany.
So actually we need a chancellor who is willing to ignore EU rules in order to save the economy. I wonder if she has the guts to do that.
Tony Blair will support her, but Chirac will give her hell.
OK, that may not be the downside after all.
Posted by: True German Ally   2005-07-02 15:46  

#5  I deal in discreet packets of love.
Posted by: Dr FeelGood   2005-07-02 15:13  

#4  Quantum mechanics is at the heart of modern chemistry. Far more important to chemistry than physics.
Posted by: Steve White   2005-07-02 12:59  

#3  Lol, JFM - it does sound a bit bizarre, but indeed Georgia Tech, a fine engineering school, has such courses. It's more mathematics than test tubes, heh.
Posted by: .com   2005-07-02 09:03  

#2  Am I the only one who thinks there is no such thing as quantum chemistry?
Posted by: JFM   2005-07-02 08:57  

#1  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.

Ms. Merkel should be told told that tax cuts will accomplish much of what she is saying. Making Germany more efficient will force all comptetors to do the same in order to keep up.

Tax cuts are modern miracles.

Undo regs, sure; give business more flexibility okay, but tax cuts will accomplish much of what Germany so desperately needs.

IMHO, that is...
Posted by: badanov   2005-07-02 00:12  

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