As I've noted, the anti-German sentiment that Germany has worked so hard to eradicate in the post war era may be coming back.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-return-of-anti-german-sentiment.html
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/07/in-discussing-germany-you-can-be-polite.html
In the PW era, Germany has always felt the need geopolitcally speaking to have 'Europe' in front of it's actions. Quite frankly to avoid ever being the heavy again. The EU gives Germany cover. However, their preformance this past weekend has blown this cover off.
There is little doubt that Merkel will get the votes for the Greek deal in Parliament on Friday. However, there is worry that she's really hurt Germany's image-and broached the subject of Grexit for the first time.
"While the chancellor enjoys the strong support of her conservative CDU/CSU party — and much of the public — her tough behaviour at a marathon eurozone Brussels summit that ran through the night into Monday morning has provoked critics at home and abroad to accuse her of intimidating Greece and humiliating its leader."
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-return-of-anti-german-sentiment.html
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/07/in-discussing-germany-you-can-be-polite.html
In the PW era, Germany has always felt the need geopolitcally speaking to have 'Europe' in front of it's actions. Quite frankly to avoid ever being the heavy again. The EU gives Germany cover. However, their preformance this past weekend has blown this cover off.
There is little doubt that Merkel will get the votes for the Greek deal in Parliament on Friday. However, there is worry that she's really hurt Germany's image-and broached the subject of Grexit for the first time.
"While the chancellor enjoys the strong support of her conservative CDU/CSU party — and much of the public — her tough behaviour at a marathon eurozone Brussels summit that ran through the night into Monday morning has provoked critics at home and abroad to accuse her of intimidating Greece and humiliating its leader."
"To some, she has even committed the ultimate crime in postwar German foreign policy: jeopardising the country’s commitment to European unity."
“Germany has made a historic mistake. For the first time in 60 years Germany has demanded less Europe rather than more,” says Sven-Christian Kindler, the opposition Green party’s budget spokesman."
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d533aa6e-2afe-11e5-8613-e7aedbb7bdb7.html#ixzz3g93L7Yd2
"Spiegel, a centre-left magazine often critical of Ms Merkel, said in an online comment: “The German government destroyed seven decades of postwar diplomacy on a single weekend.”
"The liberal Süddeutsche newspaper headlined a report about Ms Merkel: “Europe’s new enemy.”
To be sure, German popular opinion supports her:
"The chancellor will also be pleased with the public support shown in opinion polls this week. In an ARD television poll, 57 per cent backed the rescue plan. Only 13 per cent said it went too far in squeezing concessions out of Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras; a full 22 per cent said it should have gone further."
"Ms Merkel is certain to win Friday’s vote, with the backing of the bulk of her own bloc and other parties. But she may not escape unscathed. She faces a rare revolt of sceptical CDU/CSU MPs who see the Greek programme as a waste of money."
"Bild, the conservative top-selling tabloid, agrees, saying on Wednesday that the cost of preventing Grexit — a Greek exit from the eurozone — was “far too high”
The irony is that at this point the conservatives who think it was far too high are better for Greece-whatever facilitates Grexit the fastest is its true friend. This is why even Schauble now looks a little better even.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-long-will-greece-crucify-itself-on.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DiaryOfARepublicanHater+%28Diary+of+a+Republican+Hater%29
“Germany has made a historic mistake. For the first time in 60 years Germany has demanded less Europe rather than more,” says Sven-Christian Kindler, the opposition Green party’s budget spokesman."
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d533aa6e-2afe-11e5-8613-e7aedbb7bdb7.html#ixzz3g93L7Yd2
"Spiegel, a centre-left magazine often critical of Ms Merkel, said in an online comment: “The German government destroyed seven decades of postwar diplomacy on a single weekend.”
"The liberal Süddeutsche newspaper headlined a report about Ms Merkel: “Europe’s new enemy.”
To be sure, German popular opinion supports her:
"The chancellor will also be pleased with the public support shown in opinion polls this week. In an ARD television poll, 57 per cent backed the rescue plan. Only 13 per cent said it went too far in squeezing concessions out of Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras; a full 22 per cent said it should have gone further."
"Ms Merkel is certain to win Friday’s vote, with the backing of the bulk of her own bloc and other parties. But she may not escape unscathed. She faces a rare revolt of sceptical CDU/CSU MPs who see the Greek programme as a waste of money."
"Bild, the conservative top-selling tabloid, agrees, saying on Wednesday that the cost of preventing Grexit — a Greek exit from the eurozone — was “far too high”
The irony is that at this point the conservatives who think it was far too high are better for Greece-whatever facilitates Grexit the fastest is its true friend. This is why even Schauble now looks a little better even.
http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-long-will-greece-crucify-itself-on.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DiaryOfARepublicanHater+%28Diary+of+a+Republican+Hater%29
For Germany itself, however, this could be the start of a big mistake. For 60 years it has avoided at all costs to end up isolated from 'Europe'-but they have set a precedent now that and may not be able to close back Pandora's Box.
No comments:
Post a Comment