Chancellor Frau Murky

[pederito1]

I wonder if she will win tomorrow, I suppose as the saying goes that it is " better to deal with the devil you know" Naziism could be resurrected at any time and it is ages since they started another European war only wants a new Hitler. Cant see the Yanks rushing to our aid either in spite of the "Special" relationship and we don`t have a Churchill.

[cromwell]

The predictions are that she will win Ped, but not as well as was predicted a few weeks since.
I wonder how the new anti-EU party will do over there?

[Suff]

She has good support. Many Germans believe the vapourware that she's "Bashing those spendthrift Greeks". In fact she is not. She's bashing the EU institutions to make sure Greece doesn't fall so the Euro won't fall and all that lovely profit made by German companies is not lost.....

A subtle difference and, in the long run, perhaps the German people don't care that much what the difference is? I don't know. One or the other, it all comes down to protecting the "State" of Germany. That's what our politicians are supposed to do? Right?

[KateLMead]

A Lot of business have folded.. She is not as popular as given in the press. Close friends inform me so, with the arrival of one of those Academics next month for his yearly break.. I worked in Germany many years ago have noted the changes don't be fooled by Murky she will and is playing the field.

[Suff]

As I expected, she won. Also as I expected, her own party had a critical boost in support.

Their partners, however, were all but destroyed.

Now time for horse trading to see who will partner then in government...

One thing is certain for me. She will not be so popular come the next one...

[Workingman]

Germany drifted ever so slightly leftwards on Sunday, but not enough for an SPD led coalition to form - Die Linke is too radical for that. Nonetheless, a CDU/CSU + SPD coalition, the most likely result, will reign in the Frau's grand project even if it is not by much.

[TheOstrich]

Germany drifted ever so slightly leftwards on Sunday, .......

Hmmm, an interesting one ..... WM, would you not consider the scenario to be that Germany drifted ever so slightly rightwards?

But the brand-new, right-wing, anti-EU AfD didn't do sufficiently well to break the 5% barrier and win seats ....... and it may well have also somewhat orchestrated the collapse of Merkel's existing coalition partner (Freedom?).

And might that not be the case in the UK come 2015, i.e. the (relatively!) brand-new, right-wing, anti-EU UKIP will poll well, but not sufficiently well so win seats - but in doing so will create a scenario where the Liberal Democrats collapse and allow Labour a full majority in the Commons?

[Workingman]

Fair points about the numbers, Ossie, but I was considering the Realpolitik of governance. The SPD jumping into bed with the CDU/CSU could put a bit of a break on and it also frees up the other parties in the Bundestag to go their own way. There is a theoretical left wing majority should the SDP+Greens+Dei Linke ever wish to block certain policies.

[pederito1]

I think she has her head screwed on the right way about the ultra right wing at least I hope so As for Cameron did he really inspire the ever so slight glimmer in the economy or is it just a case of a sine wave?

[Suff]

If you look at the figures after 2008, Brown borrowed massively to create a huge bump in the economy. He was intending to keep fuelling that bump with nothing below it whether the economy was actually OK or not. We were already at 78% of GDP. Hollande did this in France, 76% of GDP to 98% of GDP in one year. Crucnch, he can't borrow and he can't spend. Everyone hates him, France is, in reality, in recession regardless of what the official stats say.

If you look at what Cameron and Osborne did, they turned down the drip feed of money, made everyone throttle back. Took out the non viable companies and reseeded the field of the economy. It has been no sine wave. Brown was the sine wave, Boom, Bust, BANG fuelled by debt. Since Cameron and Osborne have taken over, the economy has been growing slowly but steadily on a very minimal path. Whilst, internally, businesses reset and the whole cycle starts again.

I know which one works for me.

I can tell you that, for me, the only place in the entire EU that jobs are strong is the UK. Even Germany is flatlined or shrinking in the jobs market for me.

Merkel's Germany may have had a really good 10 years. But it was largely fuelled by the debt of the rest of the EU, buying German goods.

What this portends for the next decade. In an Austerity EU, where countries can't afford to borrow, can't afford quality but expensive German goods, is an interesting question. Will they remember that having their own car companies producing their own cars, bought at home and sold cheaply abroad, will ease their economic woes and boost their employment and GDP?

Because that is the path I see Merkel's Germany "Saying" it wants the EU to go. Do I believe it????? Well now that's an interesting question.