It was supposed to be some kind of witty remark. Too bad that the man who shot it is not known neither for his wit nor for his humor. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and Greek prime Minister Alexis Tsipras were sitting in a panel discussion in the World Economic Forum of Davos. All eyes were focusing on the two for obvious reasons. At one point the discussion was about the participation of the International Monetary Fund in the Greek fiscal adjustment program.
Wolfgang Schaeruble praised the “European solidarity” stressing however with a clear hint to Greece that “agreements have to be respected.” – “Stick to the agreements” has been one of the mopst frequent German criticism to Greece.
And then Schaeuble shot the unbelievable. “It’s the implementation, stupid!” he said paraphrasing a sentence attributed to former US President Bill Clinton “It’s the economy, stupid!”
Of course, Schaeuble did not name the Greek Prime Minister but many Greeks saw an indirect insult to the face of Alexis Tsipras. The Greek Prime Minister let it be and refrain from delivering a verbal tit for tat exchange of “witty remarks” and thus in front of live cameras.
Back in Athens, government sources commented that that “the Prime Minister did not consider Schaeuble’s remark as “insult” and that the people’s reactions were “exaggerated.”
Insult or not Insult, the point is that Schaeuble formally struggled to speak out such a phrase in English. It was well-thought and badly delivered.
PS it’s the semantics, stupid, and Tsipras’ nonchalance.
A small nuclear detonation in Davos would eliminate many problems.
Davos 2016 – The Future of Europe.
It is on youtube – have you watched it – have you listened to the 5 guests speak and what they have said.
MY GOD WHAT A BUNCH OF INEPT AND MENTALLY SENILE PEOPLE.
These are the leaders of the European Member Nations – Europe has no hope what so ever of getting out of the gutter where it lies.
The world economic forum at davos is alwayas the same — a collection of outright criminals and morons who have money and/or power. Of course, you are right that Europe has never (in living memory) had such corrupt and useless cretins holding power as now. It is indeed the case that Europe is fucked, with so many people like that in positions of control.
Tsipras non escalation was a smart move! He still however needs to prove progress on targetted implementation reform goals as agreed and structure a comprehensive investment incentive lead recovery while reducing tax evasion and government corruption.
Not “agreed”, blackmailed into: “Alexi, 30.000 people murdered by austerity is not enough? Do you want our great nation to start anti-Greek pogroms in the fatherland?”?