Driven By Desperation

While Greece dithers about its future within the EU and the Merkozy decide Greece should have its own bank account, it's well known in EU circles, that Angela Merkel's relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy has been fraught at times. Therefore it was a surprise to many to find that she has decided to openly campaign for her French colleague who is facing elections this year.

Although the EU is based on a ruling German/French duo - Adenauer and de Gaulle hammered out the Elysee Treaty and Kohl and Mitterand held hands over the graves of Verdun - there is unease in Germany, because if Sarkozy lost it would be a severe setback for Berlin.

Merkel's reason for offering her support to the weak Sarkozy is not because he supported her during her campaign but because she is horrified at the prospect of Sarkozy's challenger, the socialist Francois Hollande, succeeding. Hollande describes himself as a 'pragmatic leftist' but his campaign manifesto is so full of expensive promises that even the centre-left Social Democrats in Germany have their doubts about him. Holland's European policy is causing Merkel particular concern and so far she has primarily been able to push through her vision of European austerity only because she knows Sarkozy is on her side.

Hollande has already stated clearly that he will overturn the fiscal pact, the heart of Merkel's European policy and it's this which causes the German chancellor grief.

Why would the leader of a country attempt to influence the electorate of another when it's none of their business? It smacks of desperation but it also shows how far Merkel will go to ensure her EU monetary policy succeeds.

Will her public support be effective?  At present the feeling is that Hollande should silently savour Merkel's intervention because it may end up helping him more than Sarkozy. Many French voters are fed up with their president, who is constantly citing Germany as a shining economic example for France.

I'm uncomfortable with this and wonder if it's the start of German interference into elections in other member states.  Sarkozy has three months before he faces his country. The Merkel/Sarkozy co-operative campaign kicked off yesterday with a joint television interview broadcast on Germany's ZDF and the French station France 2.

The EU is progressing in a distinctly autocratic manner. If Sarkozy does win the Merkel will be further empowered and that doesn't bode well for the future of Europe.

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Satire - But Will The Leader of France Understand it?

As matters continue to develop in Europe, with Angela Merkel behaving in a much more statesman-like manner than her colleague Nick Sarkozy, I thought the above may be one appropriate response to the Frenchman's diatribes regarding the Prime Minister.

His Grace does it so much better though.

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Dare I Mention Germany?

The last time I mentioned Germany I was brutally abused by another Scottish blog - which has a number of authors -  and accused of being racist. I have no intention of linking or naming the blog because I do now think the reason for the post was to increase their traffic.  Shame really because their main authors do write eloquently and create sensible discussion, however the responsibility of any blog lies with the creator(s) and they are responsible for the content.

 Not only was I deeply distressed by the accusation, but it became obvious, during an exchange of blog comments with the author, that she had neither read the whole post or had any knowledge of Germany, far less its politics.  I learned a lesson though - I no longer read blogs which do not provide email contact. Many misunderstandings can be resolved by email without attempts having to be made in public blog comments, but this particular blog was quite content to make accusations without answering my defence queries. Sadly I believe it still doesn't provide an email address so no reader can confidentially complain about specific remarks in a post.  As an independent blogger I'm always willing to discuss my opinions with my readers either in comments or by email, which is confidential unless the writer gives their permission for their words to be publicised.

 I stand by my position of saying Angela Merkel had a right to say what she did and so did David Cameron, who recently orated on the same subject. All of us should be allowed the freedom of speech without those who disagree immediately shouting racist.

However this post is nothing to do with multiculturalism in Germany, or anywhere else for that matter, but an attempt to understand why Germany decided to abstain from the UN Security Council vote authorising force against Libya.

Angela Merkel has long be striving for a permanent seat on the Security Council or, as a second choice, a permanent European Union seat, but following Germany's abstention last Friday, an increasing number of senior politicians in Germany are now saying that neither goal is achievable.

Yesterday Ms Merkel explained to the Bundestag her reasons, knowing Germany is the only Western country among the five UN resolution abstentions, why Germany would not provide crew members for AWACS surveillance flights over Libya.   She forsees a greater German engagement in Afghanistan as a way of freeing up personnel from other countries which could then be used in operations against Gaddafi, yet she insisted Germany would not be participating in military operations against Libya.

Ruprecht Polenz, a member of her own party, claimed this was a catastrophic signal.

It's difficult for Berlin to find a position on Libya.  Since WW11 Germany has been at pains to avoid isolating itself on foreign policy questions, yet this is the first time it is totally isolated among its allies.

But, Merkel's government is not quite devoid of arguments.  It remains very unclear whether Gaddafi can be stopped by air power alone.  Merkel insists the situation has to be thought though to the end, which puts Germany in a reflective position and has support in the UK.  Although many here support the no-fly zone - some for more political reasons than others - nearly half the UK population are asking why when the UK government were selling arms to Libya only a few months ago.

It's Guido Westerwelle, the German Foreign Secretary, whose position is on a shoogly nail, yet publicly none of his party will criticise him.  Some say that Germany's foreign policy standing in the EU has taken a hit.  "Westerwelle is breaking the European Unions apart," said one confidant of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who insists that the EU is prepared to implement the resolution.

The FDP member of the EU Parliament Alexander Graf Lambsdorff": "Germany's vote has weakened the EU." he adds" "The fact that the Arab League is more capable of action that the EU should give us pause for thought."

It should indeed and I can't see why Germany's desire to place a bum on a Security Council seat is a no-go. It has committed to providing €5 million of humanitarian aid for the Libyan people and is perhaps right in fence sitting regarding the no-fly zone resolution, considering arab countries are beginning to question the wording of the resolution itself.

Has Merkel played an ace or a two of clubs with her position on Libya?  Only time will tell.

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It Had To Be Said

'Multiculturalism has failed' pronounced Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor yesterday.

Back in the late 60s I was a 'guest worker' in Germany.  There were strict rules such as mandatory attendance of German classes, reporting to the Arbeitsamt regularly (a type of labour exchange) and my employer was regularly contacted to ensure I was still employed by them.  My work permit was for one year with the possibility of it being extended to two years.  Unfortunately neither my employer or myself understood the extension was only granted if the guest worker still had basic language difficulties and, because I'd studied German at school, I was able to move quickly through the language classes.  Within 5 months I had completed the full 'Deutsch für Ausländer' programmes.  A few months later matters became difficult when the Arbeitsamt started to harass my employer and myself because, according to the rules, I could no longer work under my current work permit.  They considered I was now too qualified for a domestic work permit and I had also proved I had a reasonable command of the language so I was pressurised, by the Arbeitsamt, into setting up my own business.  My employer was a good friend and I had no wish to cause them trouble with the state, so I decided to return to the UK.  I was far too young (and naive) to consider buying or renting my own business in another country.

Back to the language classes. They were poorly attended, perhaps because there were fees involved, and I think only around 10% of the list attended even irregularly. Therefore the state did have a problem even then trying to ensure their guest workers knew basic German although, if they were as thorough with the progress of others as they were with mine, then surely not many slipped through the system in those days.

However, when I did return to work in Germany it was near the Dutch/German border. There were large communities of Turkish workers and few integrated with the local populations.  One of my staff, a delightful and hard-working middle-aged Turkish woman, came to me one day in a distressed state.  She wanted to know if I could offer a job to her brother and sister-in-law because they had applied to come to Germany as she had been resident for over 10 years.  The truth was she didn't want the responsibility of sponsoring them and she knew if they didn't find work then she would be responsible for their living expenses.  The German benefit system was similar to ours in those days.  Houses were not provided and state benefits were tightly controlled.

Nowadays I hear from my German friends that it's not immigration that's the problem, it's the quantity of it (ring any bells?).  Richard puts it down to Muslim immigration but I think the nationalities are far more diverse.

Is Angela Merkel right to openly state her belief that multiculturalism has failed in her country?  As the leader of her country and a politician yes she is. Her challenge now is to say what action she intends to take to ensure integration.  She has to appear to be fair and tolerant as well as understanding yet firm.  A difficult balancing act indeed.

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