After Merkel

[mindlight]

Angela Merkel, arguably the most powerful woman in the world, has announced she will not run again as party leader and she will be stepping down as Chancellor. Some people think this will happen this year and others in 2021. Merkel has been Chancellor since 2005 guiding Germany through the 2008 financial crisis and various Eurozone crises. On her watch Germany has grown in political influence and remained economically healthy. Arguably her greatest act as Chancellor was her compassion towards refugees from the Middle East. It may well be this was also the major reason for her eventual demise.

With the Greens and the anti-immigration AFD on the rise and the 2 major parties with the lowest share of votes since 1949 German politics seems to be going through a lot of change and with Merkel leaving there is a considerable amount of uncertainty.

What did you love or hate about Merkel?
What did she do right?
What did she do wrong?
Who or what kind of coalition is likely to replace her?

Angela Merkel: Germany's shrewd political survivor
Angela Merkel - Wikipedia

 

[Dave-W]

Some people think this will happen this year and others in 2021

That is one thing I really DISLIKE with Parlementary style legislatures. We know the exact date of every election for the next 500 years (if the US lasts that long).

 

[Hieronymus]

She and other EU leaders have flooded EU with "refugees".
They also try to destroy the economy with treaties based on lies, like the CO2 hype.
The EU does the Kalergi plan.
But the decades of globalist brainwashing has many people brainwashed into thinking it is the way to go.
They make people feel smart for complying too.
Those who object are deemed less intelligent.
I hope it's not too late...

 

[Tom 1]

Angela Merkel, arguably the most powerful woman in the world, has announced she will not run again as party leader and she will be stepping down as Chancellor. Some people think this will happen this year and others in 2021. Merkel has been Chancellor since 2005 guiding Germany through the 2008 financial crisis and various Eurozone crises. On her watch Germany has grown in political influence and remained economically healthy. Arguably her greatest act as Chancellor was her compassion towards refugees from the Middle East. It may well be this was also the major reason for her eventual demise.

With the Greens and the anti-immigration AFD on the rise and the 2 major parties with the lowest share of votes since 1949 German politics seems to be going through a lot of change and with Merkel leaving there is a considerable amount of uncertainty.

What did you love or hate about Merkel?
What did she do right?
What did she do wrong?
Who or what kind of coalition is likely to replace her?

Angela Merkel: Germany's shrewd political survivor
Angela Merkel - Wikipedia

I think she had been remarkably consistent, and, obviously, a shrewd and pragmatic operator. I suppose that makes her seemingly rather emotional handling of the immigrant issue a bit surprising - or maybe not, as she seemed to feel the weight of Germany’s past, understandably. Maybe just showing a more human side. I do think she could have handled it better though, with more safeguards in place, but it’s hard to fault her very human response to it.
Re the economy and maintaining Germany's place as the largest and most robust economy in Europe, well played, I would say.

 

[Nithavela]

That is one thing I really DISLIKE with Parlementary style legislatures. We know the exact date of every election for the next 500 years (if the US lasts that long).

The chancellor election will happen in 2021. She will keep her seat until then. The thing she will give up this year is the leadership of her party.

 

[mindlight]

The chancellor election will happen in 2021. She will keep her seat until then. The thing she will give up this year is the leadership of her party.

Spiegel magasine is one the voices suggesting that party leadership is so intertwined with the Chancellorship that once she has lost the one she should lose the other also. Obviously this would undermine her plan for a phased transition of power. So she could step down this year or in 2021

 

[mindlight]

I think she had been remarkably consistent, and, obviously, a shrewd and pragmatic operator. I suppose that makes her seemingly rather emotional handling of the immigrant issue a bit surprising - or maybe not, as she seemed to feel the weight of Germany’s past, understandably. Maybe just showing a more human side. I do think she could have handled it better though, with more safeguards in place, but it’s hard to fault her very human response to it.
Re the economy and maintaining Germany's place as the largest and most robust economy in Europe, well played, I would say.

Dropping the borders was an act of compassion but was not controlled and has raised some very raw feelings here in Germany. It has caused the rise of the AFD which in turn has bled off votes from many of the parties of the right and centre ground. The map of German politics has been changed. The Greens are gaining. Noone is talking to the AFD so they will be in no coalition. This shifts German politics to the left where noone has any sense over military spending for example and where business acumen is far lower. The biggest beneficiaries of Merkels economic management have been big German multinationals with globally competitive products. Wages have stayed constant for 10 years

 

[mindlight]

She and other EU leaders have flooded EU with "refugees".
They also try to destroy the economy with treaties based on lies, like the CO2 hype.
The EU does the Kalergi plan.
But the decades of globalist brainwashing has many people brainwashed into thinking it is the way to go.
They make people feel smart for complying too.
Those who object are deemed less intelligent.
I hope it's not too late...

The number of refugees is very low compared to Europes population. We could have taken far more were feelings not so intense on this. Given Europes demographic problem that was not a bad idea.

The kalergi plan is usually quoted by racists opposed to interracial marriage and has little to do with reality.

There is a manmade dimension to the growth of CO2 emissions with severe environmental impacts. Again this is a matter of reality.

 

[Tom 1]

Dropping the borders was an act of compassion but was not controlled and has raised some very raw feelings here in Germany. It has caused the rise of the AFD which in turn has bled off votes from many of the parties of the right and centre ground. The map of German politics has been changed. The Greens are gaining. Noone is talking to the AFD so they will be in no coalition. This shifts German politics to the left where noone has any sense over military spending for example and where business acumen is far lower. The biggest beneficiaries of Merkels economic management have been big German multinationals with globally competitive products. Wages have stayed constant for 10 years

Are stagnant wages a direct result of austerity measures? Seems to be a similar picture across Europe. The Germany economy is in part sustained by small, specialist manufacturers - or isn’t it? - that’s something I read, albeit a while ago, that the network of relatively small but high quality manufacturing firms makes up a significant amount of domestic commerce at least. Are smaller firms being overlooked to favour the multi-nationals? How much political savvy do the greens have?

 

[FireDragon76]

Is it true much of the support for the AFD is in Bavaria?

 

[mindlight]

Is it true much of the support for the AFD is in Bavaria?

No mainly the old East Germany but it is nationwide. Bavaria came in about 10% which probably hurt the CSU most. Saxony- Anhalt came in at 25% in the East.

Alternative for Germany - Wikipedia

 

[mindlight]

Are stagnant wages a direct result of austerity measures? Seems to be a similar picture across Europe. The Germany economy is in part sustained by small, specialist manufacturers - or isn’t it? - that’s something I read, albeit a while ago, that the network of relatively small but high quality manufacturing firms makes up a significant amount of domestic commerce at least. Are smaller firms being overlooked to favour the multi-nationals? How much political savvy do the greens have?

Wage growth has picked up the last few years as there is actually a labour shortage here in germany but over the last 30 years there is a gap of some 30% between productivity rises and wage growth making German companies competitive and the trade surplus high.

The mittelstand companies account for half the GNP and 37% of its exports but the multinationals have had a better deal the last few years with selective tax breaks.

The Greens were in charge of Baden wurtemberg but they are a divided talking shop rather than a practical political force as their recent failure to form a coalition with the CDU indicates.

 

[FireDragon76]

No mainly the old East Germany but it is nationwide. Bavaria came in about 10% which probably hurt the CSU most. Saxony- Anhalt came in at 25% in the East.

Alternative for Germany - Wikipedia

The East is the "Atheist Belt" in Germany, isn't it? Why do you think most of the support for the far right is in east Germany?

 

[mindlight]

The East is the "Atheist Belt" in Germany, isn't it? Why do you think most of the support for the far right is in east Germany?

Quite simply they do not have the same historical experience of democracy as West Germany. They lived under the Kaiser, the Weimar, the Nazis and then Commies and have only recently come to an experience of freedom. Both Die Linke (The Communists) and the Far Right are stronger there. As you say many of these guys are atheists in practice and I have spoken with many for whom God has never been part of the conversation. We had an East German landlord who fought on the Russian front for 4 years being wounded twice. He would have been a hero in any other army. The guy was still a Nazi in his mindset and had no idea of other peoples space and we had to sue him to keep him out of ours. In this sort of close minded wounded mindset in which the freedom of difference has never really been an experienced reality the outsider is regarded as the threat. But not outsiders with white skins, Russians and East Europeans are tolerated and I have had only a few issues with older Germans who blamed me for destroying their homes (me being British and best buddies with Bomber Harris by definition!!!!!!). Muslims are the ultimate outsiders and regarded as terrorists and perverts. It is racism but I have gotten into trouble for calling individuals who have argued this racists. That said Merkel herself grew up in the East and she turned out alright. But through her pastor father she had the God connection to inform her instincts so she is different. Also she was always Westward leaning. Many East Germans get their news from Russia Today and follow the more nationalistic Putin style which the Russians hope will split up Europe and make it easy pickings for renewed Russian hegemony.

 

[Hieronymus]

The number of refugees is very low compared to Europes population. We could have taken far more were feelings not so intense on this. Given Europes demographic problem that was not a bad idea.

It's killing the western civilisation and the Christian morals and values.
This is plain to see.

The kalergi plan is usually quoted by racists opposed to interracial marriage and has little to do with reality.

It is defended by brainwashed cucks only.

There is a manmade dimension to the growth of CO2 emissions with severe environmental impacts.

So they brainwash us.
You seem to lap it up without questioning anything.

Again this is a matter of reality.

No it is not.
It's a matter of relentless propaganda, based on fake science and crooked numbers.
But you don't know this when you only allow the establishment to tell you what to believe.
Meanwhile you are condoning and defending the powers that be who don't even care about you, who deem you a useful idiot.
They want the planet for themselves, they want to enslave and drastically reduce the population.
You consent.

 

[Hieronymus]

The East is the "Atheist Belt" in Germany, isn't it? Why do you think most of the support for the far right is in east Germany?

What is far right?
Is it what the media calls it, while it is just people who love their nation, or at least, what it used to be or could be?

I think they may want to steer towards civil war between the cultures.
Let the useless eaters get rid of themselves after they have been divided against eachother.
Who knows.

 

[FireDragon76]

Merkel definitely gets my vote for a good example of a Lutheran and a Christian.

 

[mindlight]

It's killing the western civilisation and the Christian morals and values.

Christian civilisation is an abused term. But it seems to me that showing compassion for people in the worst of circumstances is demonstrating Christianity rather than concealing it. Is there a risk in such love - to be sure but it is this love that is attracting people from all over the world not the hate that they are running away from in Muslim dominated countries.

This is plain to see.It is defended by brainwashed cucks only.So they brainwash us.
You seem to lap it up without questioning anything.No it is not.

We all came from Adam and Eve, mixing the races means nothing to me and outside of being Jewish I believe it means nothing to God.

It's a matter of relentless propaganda, based on fake science and crooked numbers.
But you don't know this when you only allow the establishment to tell you what to believe.
Meanwhile you are condoning and defending the powers that be who don't even care about you, who deem you a useful idiot.
They want the planet for themselves, they want to enslave and drastically reduce the population.
You consent.

It would be impossible to deny an increase of CO2 emissions scientifically in the last century and a level of warming of the ocean that is fast by historical planetary standards. It is also clear that this has a significant human contribution.

It is true that sometimes Green Party solutions to impending catastrophe are extreme. The premature closure of paid for and perfectly safe nuclear power plants here in Germany is an example which probably contributed to the increase in CO2 emissions for instance. In the last week we have heard good news about the healing of the Ozone layer as a result of coordinated actions across the globe. That we also take actions to remove toxic emissions, global warming emissions and indeed handle the growing problem of microplastics is just being practical in my view. I hope that the new Brasilian president will not simply allow agribusinesses to chop down the Amazon rainforest for instance but will rather find ways to use the land without denuding it of trees.

You talk about the whole global environmental movement as being a top down conspiracy. But in fact this is often driven by people who are fed up watching their kids die drinking toxic water, or from breathing polluted air, who want to see a view that is rich with natural colours rather than simply a mountain of plastic wrappers that will never biodegrade. People prefer to be healthy rather than sick and to inhabit a healthy ecosystem rather than a dying one is the gist of the movement. Sometimes they do silly things but very often they get it right.

 

[mindlight]

Merkel definitely gets my vote for a good example of a Lutheran and a Christian.

She is a woman who has lived and battled in the real world. In doing so she has made numerous compromises. For example she allowed same sex marriage laws to be passed here even though personally opposed. She has made mistakes but was overall a good steward of Germany for her watch. She staked her chancellorship on an act of compassion towards immigrants which many inside her own party found too radical even though it answers the deeper demographic problem that Germany faces. If this is what breaks her and ends an impressive term in office then well I can think of worse things to be broken by. Better to perish for Christian reasons than simply to perish.

 

[Hieronymus]

Christian civilisation is an abused term.

No it is not.
You know exactly what it means too.