Time for her to go now.
The USA has it right; 8 years and off you go.
Agreed.
As for Merkel, for someone who has won several elections, it's remarkable how unpopular she is at home. According to my German relatives, she doesn't get anything done (the flip side to consensus politics I guess). The feeling is that her absurd stance on opening the gates to 800,000 immigrants is her attempt at making a mark on German politics. I'm not sure she'll be highly regarded in future years.
She's so unpopular that, according to the latest polls, her party is currently 12% ahead of the SPD opposition: Jeremy Corbyn would love to be that unpopular
She's so unpopular that, according to the latest polls, her party is currently 12% ahead of the SPD opposition: Jeremy Corbyn would love to be that unpopular
But as I understand it from fairly politically moderate German relatives, it's by default. I was interested to read what [MENTION=599]beorhthelm[/MENTION] posted immediately after me, because that is exactly what I hear from them!
Yes. Obviously.What do you mean by default? That the opposition is weak?
Yes. Obviously.
I see parallels with Tony Blair who swept to power on a tide of ant-Tory sentiment (from their perceived incompetence), ploughed money into the NHS and schools, but then after a few years ran out of ideas and will forever be remembered by his final shameful big decisions - arse-licking the Americans by leading us into an Iraqi war.
This ignorant policy on opening the doors to Germany (and by extension the EU) will be her Iraq war.
The opposition might well have strengthened but it doesn't mean they aren't weak - just that they had been weaker.But the SPD increased their vote at the last election and went into coalition instead of her preferred FDP. And the SDP were able to squeeze Merkel as they got a number of key concessions out of her. My take is the opposition was stronger at the last election, not weaker.
I guess recent events might have changed all this though?
As an aside I'm not defending Merkel. More pointing out my understanding of the situation.
Yes. Obviously.
I see parallels with Tony Blair who swept to power on a tide of ant-Tory sentiment (from their perceived incompetence), ploughed money into the NHS and schools, but then after a few years ran out of ideas and will forever be remembered by his final shameful big decisions - arse-licking the Americans by leading us into an Iraqi war.
This ignorant policy on opening the doors to Germany (and by extension the EU) will be her Iraq war.
I would think that nobody in power dares to dissent, because they risk being labelled with those far-right simpletons - much like the middle class hand-wringers in this country who squirm whenever a working class white has dared to stand up on Question Time and complain at anything that might be perceived racist, when in actual fact they might have a very real point.But the SPD broadly supports the line on refugees (as does the third placed Green Party). The only dissenting parties are her CSU allies in Bavaria and the far-right groups.
The problem that Germany faces is its very, very low birth-rate and politicians of all parties know that this is an issue for the future. That's why there's no serious political opposition to Merkel's policy
I would think that nobody in power dares to dissent, because they risk being labelled with those far-right simpletons - much like the middle class hand-wringers in this country who squirm whenever a working class white has dared to stand up on Question Time and complain at anything that might be perceived racist, when in actual fact they might have a very real point.
Whilst a low birth-rate is a very real issue, so too is large scale immigration from people in the way Merkel has allowed.
I would think that nobody in power dares to dissent