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Germany's Would-Be Leaders Spar Over EU

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The SPD's Peter Steinbruck's criticism of Merkel's handling of the eurozone crisis. Speaking to the Bundestag Steinbruck said Merkel had wasted time and billions of dollars of taxpayers before committing to keep Greece in the eruozone. "You should have held this speech three years ago... Never has Germany been so isolated in Europe as it is today." He said Merkel was not being honest with Germans that to be part of Europe Germany had to take on some of the cost and that it was worth it. Instead she was riding the wave of negative opinion for the eurozone and at the same time trying to keep up Germany's influence in Brussels, creating a perception of a new kind of German "industrial imperialism." This comes as France's president Hollande expressed serious dissatisfaction with Merkel's handling of the eurozone crisis in an interview with reporters of 5 European newspapers in October 2012.

Peer Steinbruck, the Social Democrat's candidate for chancellor in Germany's 2013 elections

09/29/2012

Former finance minister in a Merkel led coalition, Peer Steinbruck, will challenge Angela Merkel in 2013. His goal is not to make a good showing which leads to a coalition with the Christian Democrats, but to win the election outright. He is well known in Germany for his handling of the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Germans remember the image of Steinbruck and Merkel together the day Lehman Brothers collapsed, when Steinbruck assured depositors that their savings would be safe. He is trusted by Germans and may even win some of Merkel's right wing supporters who have lost faith in Merkel. Steinbruck is direct and speaks his mind, saying sometimes he thinks he too is "too-big-to-fail," in an allusion to banks, and would need a capital infusion. Merkel's personal popularity is high in Germany but the popularity of the Christian Democrats is declining and it has lost elections in key states recently. The SPD partner, the Greens are also more popular than the CDU partner, the Free Democrats.

Grouped Articles

Elites Flock to Anti-Euro Party, Alternative for Germany

New York Times 04/14/2013

Merkel Offers Her Election Manifesto

New York Times 06/24/2013

Merkel Rival Kicks Off Campaign, Hits Out at Austerity, Social Issues

Wall Street Journal 07/31/2013

Germans Respond to Merkel's 'Motherly' Side

Wall Street Journal 08/23/2013

No Clear Winner in Debate Between Merkel and Challenger

New York Times 09/01/2013

German elections pit Merkel, challenger over poverty problems - The Washington Post

Washington Post 09/17/2013

The Social Democrats party in Germany

04/10/2012

Grouped Articles

No Clear Winner in Debate Between Merkel and Challenger

New York Times 09/01/2013

Germany's Social Democrats Agree to Coalition Talks With Merkel

Wall Street Journal 10/21/2013

German Coalition Reaches Deal but Faces Tough Party Vote

Wall Street Journal 11/27/2013

German Coalition Hangs on a Vote by One Party

New York Times 12/09/2013

'Pirates' Deal a Blow to Germany's Political Status Quo

Wall Street Journal 04/10/2012

In Rebuke to Merkel, Social Democrats Win German Vote

New York Times 05/13/2012

Gerhard Schroeder, former chancellor of Germany, Agenda 2010, and Angela Merkel's handling of the eurozone crisis

09/20/2011

Gerhard Schroeder describes his approach to a new Agenda 2020 for Europe. Schroeder implemented Agenda 2010 for Germany with changes to the welfare state in Germany starting in 2003. He talks about how this was done and important decisions that were made at the time for implementing it without losing public confidence, which bear directly on the situation today.

Grouped Articles

Germany reaps rewards of entitlement cuts - The Washington Post

Washington Post 09/20/2011

Germans Respond to Merkel's 'Motherly' Side

Wall Street Journal 08/23/2013

Germany's Surplus Isn't the Problem

Wall Street Journal 11/11/2013

Germany’s Neighbors Admonish It Over Surplus

New York Times 11/13/2013

Germany’s flagging economy: Build some bridges and roads, Mrs Merkel

Economist 10/17/2014

Greek Crisis Shows How Germany’s Power Polarizes Europe

Wall Street Journal 07/07/2015

Interview by the Guardian and five other European newspapers with president Hollande of France in mid-October 2012

06/21/2011

Hollande expresses his disappointment with the actions of chancellor Merkel of Germany in not supporting direct aid to Spain's banks by the European Stability Mechanism fund as agreed in June and helping lower the borrowing rates of Spain and Italy. He calls it unfair that France and Germany can borrow at 1% and Spain and Italy have to borrow at 7%. He also says Greece should not be subject to perpetual punishment after coming this far. It is Hollande's boldest effort to articulate France's frustration with Merkel's following domestic opinion in framing policy for the eurozone and delves into the many issues.

Grouped Articles

Year Into Hollande Presidency, ‘a Sense of Drift’

New York Times 05/04/2013

EU Dismisses IMF's Criticism On Greek Bailout

Wall Street Journal 06/07/2013

Policy ‘Troika’ for Europe Financial Woes at Odds

New York Times 06/07/2013

France Says It Will Miss Budget Deficit Targets

Wall Street Journal 09/12/2013

In Race to French Presidency, Hollande Sets His Own Pace

New York Times 05/05/2012

Hollande fires warning shot at Merkel over austerity on eve of EU summit | World news | guardian.co.uk

The Guardian 10/17/2012

Eduardo Porter on the choices facing Germany in 2012-2013

06/26/2012

As European leaders jointly push Germany to accept deposit insurance for European banks, European banking regulation, and eurobonds, Porter looks at the choices facing Germany. Eichengren of UC Berkeley says Ms. Merkel may be trying to extract as many quid pro quos as possible as she continues to oppose all moves to aid financially troubled eurozone countries. In the end says Porter it is in Germany's interest to relent, as the costs have been overstated, Germany will not forfeit aid money, and Germany is the main beneficiary of the declining competitiveness of its neighbors. A return to the deutsche mark now would present deeper problems for Germany as its exports would decline.

Grouped Articles

Those Depressing Germans

New York Times 11/03/2013

Germany’s Neighbors Admonish It Over Surplus

New York Times 11/13/2013

Americanized Labor Policy Is Spreading in Europe

New York Times 12/03/2013

Germany’s flagging economy: Build some bridges and roads, Mrs Merkel

Economist 10/17/2014

Why Germany Will Pay Up to Save the Euro

New York Times 06/26/2012

Report Suggests ECB Bank Supervision

Wall Street Journal 06/26/2012

German chancellor Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel

09/30/2010

The role of chancellor Kohl in setting up the euro currency arrangements during the period of German reunification. Kohl was a mentor of Ms. Merkel who is from East Germany.

Grouped Articles

Germans Respond to Merkel's 'Motherly' Side

Wall Street Journal 08/23/2013

Merkel Wins Big in German Election

Wall Street Journal 09/23/2013

German Election Overturns Political Order

Wall Street Journal 09/23/2013

For Some Germans, Unity Is Still Work in Progress

New York Times 09/30/2010

Angela Merkel Is Motivated By Decency, Not Politics

Wall Street Journal 12/21/2015

Fifty Years Later, a New Chance for Reconciliation

Wall Street Journal 07/06/2012


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