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By SPIEGEL ONLINE Staff
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy: Skepticism regarding the euro and the European Union's crisis management is growing in Germany.
One day after Angela Merkel's meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP) with which the German chancellor shares power in government, came across as well-behaved, offering its "full support" for the leaders' efforts. The rejection of euro bonds, the introduction of a debt brake, greater competitiveness and stability -- it all looks great so far, party leaders stated after a special FDP meeting on the euro.
Shortly thereafter, the chancellor's other government coalition partner, the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party to Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), also registered its view. Senior CSU politician Gerda Hasselfeldt said the measures against high deficits should be welcomed.
But one didn't need to listen very closely to the demonstrative approval to sense that the euphoria among loyal Merkel supporters in the CDU, who described Tuesday's meeting in Paris as an "historic breakthrough (and) an extremely strong political result," isn't catching amongst the CDU's coalition partners. Each step on the path to saving the euro is being viewed skeptically by Merkel's partners. Politicians praise what they can live with -- and the rest they merely interpret as they please or simply choose not to comment on. Skepticism regarding the euro rescue measures is the order of the day.
Photo Gallery 18 Photos Graphics Gallery: The Most Important Facts about the Global Debt Crisis This holds particularly true of the central element of Tuesday's Franco-German proposal: the joint economic government. The term, which the French president has used with particular verve, triggers allergic reactions among many in the CSU and FDP.
"We don't need a centralized economic government," Bavarian state Finance Minister Georg Fahrenschon recently stated angrily after someone dared to mention the proposal. Meanwhile, FDP leader Philipp Rösler recently rejected the idea of a euro-zone economic government. Instead, he called for the creation of a so-called stability council, which would monitor the budgets of the 17 euro-zone member states.
Limited Enthusiasm
It is little wonder that enthusiasm in government coalition quarters in Berlin is limited over the Merkel-Sarkozy proposal. The FDP is seeking to keep Rösler's idea alive, arguing that it "complements" the Franco-German proposal. Party officials said they understand the economic government not to mean "detailed control from Brussels, but rather the coordination of the major macroeconomic issues."
For the FDP, the euro is a divisive issue, one that has the potential to deeply strain its coalition government with Merkel. Before Merkel departed for this week's meeting in Paris, Rösler made clear once again that the FDP firmly opposes the introduction of euro bonds. The FDP fears that any common European bond, with a single interest rate, would lead crisis-stricken countries to lose their motivation to reduce their debt.
But the real danger for the FDP is if the Christian Democrats ease their position on euro bonds, as some have suggested they might do in recent days. And what if Merkel were to buckle to pressure coming from other European capitals to adopt euro bonds? Would the FDP dissolve the coalition government, as some inside the party have already suggested?
'There Are No Euro Bonds'
Christian Lindner, the FDP's general secretary, rejects such speculation. He says the debate over a possible collapse of the coalition is "not one that should be taken seriously." Besides, he said, after Tuesday's meeting the "imaginary discussion" over euro bonds had come to an end. "There are no euro bonds," he said.
But is that totally true? In Paris, Merkel didn't express permanent opposition to euro bonds, and French President Sarkozy said that "perhaps one could imagine such bonds at some point in the future," at the end of an integration process. Italy and Spain were in no way assuaged by such statements -- both countries are still calling for euro bonds. So the debate will continue to exist for both the FDP and its leader Rösler.
Recently, a handful of voices in the FDP's parliamentary group raised the possibility of an end to the coalition with Merkel, because of the billions in aid being provided to other countries during the euro crisis and the recent tensions between the FDP and Merkel's party. Admittedly, it's not top FDP politicians making these statements, but the statements still serve as a warning for the party leaders that this supposedly "imaginary" debate is in fact real. After all, backbenchers often express the kind of political sentiment that leaders are unable to voice because they want to retain discipline in the coalition government.
For its part, the Bavarian CSU, also a bastion of skepticism of euro bailouts, failed to even mention the term "economic government" in its first statement made after the Merkel-Sarkozy meeting.
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Related SPIEGEL ONLINE links The World from Berlin: 'Merkel-Sarkozy Plan Already on Shaky Footing' (08/18/2011) The Price of the Pact: What Will a European Economic Government Entail? (08/17/2011) The World From Berlin: Paris Meeting Produced 'Big Words, Little Deeds' (08/17/2011) Euro-Zone Crisis: Merkel and Sarkozy Plan 'True Economic Government' (08/16/2011) The World From Berlin: Euro Bonds 'More a Band-Aid Than a Miracle Cure' (08/15/2011) European Partners PresseuropDebt crisis | Are there any leaders out there? (The Guardian, London)
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MORE FROM SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL German Politics Merkel's Moves: Power Struggles in Berlin World War II Truth and Reconciliation: Why the War Still Haunts Europe Energy Green Power: The Future of Energy European Union United Europe: A Continental Project Climate Change Global Warming: Curbing Carbon Before It's Too Late Overview International TOP Home Politik Wirtschaft Panorama Sport Kultur Netzwelt Wissenschaft UniSPIEGEL SchulSPIEGEL Reise Auto Wetter DIENSTE Schlagzeilen RSS Newsletter Mobil VIDEO Nachrichten Videos SPIEGEL TV Magazin SPIEGEL TV Programm SPIEGEL Geschichte MEDIA SPIEGEL QC Mediadaten Selbstbuchungstool weitere Zeitschriften MAGAZINE DER SPIEGEL Dein SPIEGEL SPIEGEL GESCHICHTE SPIEGEL WISSEN KulturSPIEGEL UniSPIEGEL SPIEGEL GRUPPE Abo Shop SPIEGEL TV manager magazin Harvard Business Man. buchreport buch aktuell SPIEGEL-Gruppe WEITERE Hilfe Kontakt Nachdrucke Datenschutz Impressum TOPBut one didn't need to listen very closely to the demonstrative approval to sense that the euphoria among loyal Merkel supporters in the CDU, who described Tuesday's meeting in Paris as an "historic breakthrough (and) an extremely strong political result," isn't catching amongst the CDU's coalition partners. Each step on the path to saving the euro is being viewed skeptically by Merkel's partners. Politicians praise what they can live with -- and the rest they merely interpret as they please or simply choose not to comment on. Skepticism regarding the euro rescue measures is the order of the day.
Photo Gallery 18 Photos Graphics Gallery: The Most Important Facts about the Global Debt Crisis This holds particularly true of the central element of Tuesday's Franco-German proposal: the joint economic government. The term, which the French president has used with particular verve, triggers allergic reactions among many in the CSU and FDP.
"We don't need a centralized economic government," Bavarian state Finance Minister Georg Fahrenschon recently stated angrily after someone dared to mention the proposal. Meanwhile, FDP leader Philipp Rösler recently rejected the idea of a euro-zone economic government. Instead, he called for the creation of a so-called stability council, which would monitor the budgets of the 17 euro-zone member states.
Limited Enthusiasm
It is little wonder that enthusiasm in government coalition quarters in Berlin is limited over the Merkel-Sarkozy proposal. The FDP is seeking to keep Rösler's idea alive, arguing that it "complements" the Franco-German proposal. Party officials said they understand the economic government not to mean "detailed control from Brussels, but rather the coordination of the major macroeconomic issues."
For the FDP, the euro is a divisive issue, one that has the potential to deeply strain its coalition government with Merkel. Before Merkel departed for this week's meeting in Paris, Rösler made clear once again that the FDP firmly opposes the introduction of euro bonds. The FDP fears that any common European bond, with a single interest rate, would lead crisis-stricken countries to lose their motivation to reduce their debt.
But the real danger for the FDP is if the Christian Democrats ease their position on euro bonds, as some have suggested they might do in recent days. And what if Merkel were to buckle to pressure coming from other European capitals to adopt euro bonds? Would the FDP dissolve the coalition government, as some inside the party have already suggested?
'There Are No Euro Bonds'
Christian Lindner, the FDP's general secretary, rejects such speculation. He says the debate over a possible collapse of the coalition is "not one that should be taken seriously." Besides, he said, after Tuesday's meeting the "imaginary discussion" over euro bonds had come to an end. "There are no euro bonds," he said.
But is that totally true? In Paris, Merkel didn't express permanent opposition to euro bonds, and French President Sarkozy said that "perhaps one could imagine such bonds at some point in the future," at the end of an integration process. Italy and Spain were in no way assuaged by such statements -- both countries are still calling for euro bonds. So the debate will continue to exist for both the FDP and its leader Rösler.
Recently, a handful of voices in the FDP's parliamentary group raised the possibility of an end to the coalition with Merkel, because of the billions in aid being provided to other countries during the euro crisis and the recent tensions between the FDP and Merkel's party. Admittedly, it's not top FDP politicians making these statements, but the statements still serve as a warning for the party leaders that this supposedly "imaginary" debate is in fact real. After all, backbenchers often express the kind of political sentiment that leaders are unable to voice because they want to retain discipline in the coalition government.
For its part, the Bavarian CSU, also a bastion of skepticism of euro bailouts, failed to even mention the term "economic government" in its first statement made after the Merkel-Sarkozy meeting.
1 | 2 Next Part 1: Will Merkel's Coalition Hinder Euro Rescue? Part 2: Growing German Disatisfaction with Euro Article... Print E-Mail Feedback For reasons of data protection and privacy, your IP address will only be stored if you are a registered user of Facebook and you are currently logged in to the service. For more detailed information, please click on the "i" symbol.
Post to other social networks:
Forum Discuss this issue with other readers! Visit Forums... Share your opinion! Keep track of the newsStay informed with our free news services:
All news from SPIEGEL International Twitter | RSS All news from Germany section RSS© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2011 All Rights Reserved Reproduction only allowed with the permission of SPIEGELnet GmbH
ReprintsFind out how you can reprint this SPIEGEL ONLINE article.
Related SPIEGEL ONLINE links The World from Berlin: 'Merkel-Sarkozy Plan Already on Shaky Footing' (08/18/2011) The Price of the Pact: What Will a European Economic Government Entail? (08/17/2011) The World From Berlin: Paris Meeting Produced 'Big Words, Little Deeds' (08/17/2011) Euro-Zone Crisis: Merkel and Sarkozy Plan 'True Economic Government' (08/16/2011) The World From Berlin: Euro Bonds 'More a Band-Aid Than a Miracle Cure' (08/15/2011) European Partners PresseuropDebt crisis | Are there any leaders out there? (The Guardian, London)
Debt crisis | Who will rescue the rescuers?
PolitikenBudget postponed, election rumblings
Five youths charged under terrorism laws
Corriere della Sera“Bodies Dumped Overboard” in New Migrant Tragedy
Premier Says Italy’s Economy is Sound
Global Partners New York TimesAnxiety About the Economy Sends Stocks Down Sharply
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ABC NewsAruba Suspect Tried to Collect Woman's Insurance: AP
Full Episode: Nightline: Black Market Baby-Selling Ring Busted
Newsletter SPIEGEL ONLINE Sign up for Spiegel Online's daily newsletter - and get the best of Der Spiegel's and Spiegel Online's international coverage in your In-Box everyday. Facebook FB.init("8e0192d8770be48129dc946121d0092e"); new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'search', search: '@SPIEGEL_English', interval: 6000, title: 'Live Postings @SPIEGEL_English', subject: 'SPIEGEL on Twitter', width: 302, height: 250, theme: { shell: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#666' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#444444', links: '#990000' } }, features: { scrollbar: false, loop: false, live: true, hashtags: true, timestamp: true, avatars: true, behavior: 'all' } }).render().start();Follow SPIEGEL_English on Twitter now:
MORE FROM SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL German Politics Merkel's Moves: Power Struggles in Berlin World War II Truth and Reconciliation: Why the War Still Haunts Europe Energy Green Power: The Future of Energy European Union United Europe: A Continental Project Climate Change Global Warming: Curbing Carbon Before It's Too Late Overview International TOP Home Politik Wirtschaft Panorama Sport Kultur Netzwelt Wissenschaft UniSPIEGEL SchulSPIEGEL Reise Auto Wetter DIENSTE Schlagzeilen RSS Newsletter Mobil VIDEO Nachrichten Videos SPIEGEL TV Magazin SPIEGEL TV Programm SPIEGEL Geschichte MEDIA SPIEGEL QC Mediadaten Selbstbuchungstool weitere Zeitschriften MAGAZINE DER SPIEGEL Dein SPIEGEL SPIEGEL GESCHICHTE SPIEGEL WISSEN KulturSPIEGEL UniSPIEGEL SPIEGEL GRUPPE Abo Shop SPIEGEL TV manager magazin Harvard Business Man. buchreport buch aktuell SPIEGEL-Gruppe WEITERE Hilfe Kontakt Nachdrucke Datenschutz Impressum TOPRecently, a handful of voices in the FDP's parliamentary group raised the possibility of an end to the coalition with Merkel, because of the billions in aid being provided to other countries during the euro crisis and the recent tensions between the FDP and Merkel's party. Admittedly, it's not top FDP politicians making these statements, but the statements still serve as a warning for the party leaders that this supposedly "imaginary" debate is in fact real. After all, backbenchers often express the kind of political sentiment that leaders are unable to voice because they want to retain discipline in the coalition government.
For its part, the Bavarian CSU, also a bastion of skepticism of euro bailouts, failed to even mention the term "economic government" in its first statement made after the Merkel-Sarkozy meeting.
Post to other social networks:
Stay informed with our free news services:
© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2011 All Rights Reserved Reproduction only allowed with the permission of SPIEGELnet GmbH
Find out how you can reprint this SPIEGEL ONLINE article.
Debt crisis | Are there any leaders out there? (The Guardian, London)
Debt crisis | Who will rescue the rescuers?
Budget postponed, election rumblings
Five youths charged under terrorism laws
“Bodies Dumped Overboard” in New Migrant Tragedy
Premier Says Italy’s Economy is Sound
Anxiety About the Economy Sends Stocks Down Sharply
Obama Calls for Syrian President to Step Down
Aruba Suspect Tried to Collect Woman's Insurance: AP
Full Episode: Nightline: Black Market Baby-Selling Ring Busted
Follow SPIEGEL_English on Twitter now:
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