Guido Westerwelle, German Foreign Minister, from neo-liberal Free Democrats Party (FDP) came to his senses. He apparently realized that the populists policies of FDP cannot save his party from the free fall*. After two years of sharp criticism towards Greece and while FDP chief Philipp Roesler finally found another playground than the Greek field, Westerwelle beats another drum.
Speaking to German weekly DIE ZEIT about “European values and German arrogance” (so the interview title), Guido Westerwelle described as “silly stereotype” the klischee that made the international rounds, that “Greeks are lazy”
DIE ZEIT: Has the way we have led the debate on the crisis, contributed to bitterness?
Westerwelle: I wish, I could disagree with you wholeheartedly. But unfortunately you’re right. The sound makes the music. These stereotypes, that Greeks lay under the olive tree with a bottle of Retsina, while the Germans work hard, cannot be beaten in silliness. Even the sentance “Now Europe is speaking German” …
DIE ZEIT: …by [CDU; Merkel’s party]] parliamentary group leader Volker Kauder …
Westerwelle: … it was meant differently, but it gave the wrong message. The alleged ‘claim to power’, which is read through these words is offensive to people in other countries.
DIE ZEIT: But you also talked big: that in Germany no pensions should be cut while we pay for the Greeks …
Westerwelle: I do not want to rule out that I have not always expressed myself neatly. But for me, the most important political decision I have taken as Foreign Minister is the clear pro-European orientation in response to the crisis.
DIE ZEIT: Has the policy of the federal government no role in ensuring that Europe is now so unpopular?
Westerwelle: From the beginning, the whole strategy of the federal government was: solidarity against solidity. I will always remind the changes in the retirement age, we have decided in Germany, to other European countries with similar demographic development. Unfortunately many people in Europe go now a difficult path, walk with bare feet on a path of broken glass. We should feel compassion and respect. (further reading in German DIE ZEIT)
“Compassion and respect”? How about including really effective development measures in the loan agreements? How about reinstalling the collapsed social state in the bailout countries? All the rest is political wishful talking aiming to distract public opinion from the real issues and deep rooted economic policies mistakes.
* According to German public surveys, the FDP experienced its worst year in 2011, by getting no more than 2%.
Where there is smoke…
…. there is always a bottle of ouzo nearby -r a beer or whisky. Depending where you come from…
…there are smuggled cigarettes, Greek farmers burning the pruned branches or Turkish secret agents setting fire to the country? 😕
got that of defence.net?
What is defence.net?