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Merkel Seems to Weather German Anger Over N.S.A. Spying Merkel Appears to Weather Anger Among German Voters Over N.S.A. Spying
(about 3 hours later)
BERLIN — Attempts by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s opposition to leverage public anger over reports that Germany’s intelligence services collaborated with the United States’ enormous surveillance program have done little to dent her comfortable lead in the polls ahead of elections in September.BERLIN — Attempts by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s opposition to leverage public anger over reports that Germany’s intelligence services collaborated with the United States’ enormous surveillance program have done little to dent her comfortable lead in the polls ahead of elections in September.
But Ms. Merkel is taking no chances as she seeks a third term. She has defended German cooperation with the National Security Agency program, called Prism, and rejected any comparison between it and the invasive methods used by the Stasi, the secret police of East Germany’s Communist government.But Ms. Merkel is taking no chances as she seeks a third term. She has defended German cooperation with the National Security Agency program, called Prism, and rejected any comparison between it and the invasive methods used by the Stasi, the secret police of East Germany’s Communist government.
“The work of intelligence agencies in democratic states was always vital to the safety of citizens and will remain so in the future,” Ms. Merkel was quoted as saying in an interview published Thursday in the newspaper Die Zeit. “For me, there is absolutely no comparison between the Stasi in East Germany and the work of intelligence services in democratic states,” she added, calling the programs “two totally different things.”“The work of intelligence agencies in democratic states was always vital to the safety of citizens and will remain so in the future,” Ms. Merkel was quoted as saying in an interview published Thursday in the newspaper Die Zeit. “For me, there is absolutely no comparison between the Stasi in East Germany and the work of intelligence services in democratic states,” she added, calling the programs “two totally different things.”
The chancellor’s remarks were a measure of her political tenacity, as well as that of the issue before her. Having grown up in the former East Germany, where the secret police inserted itself into every corner of life, Ms. Merkel’s comments were aimed at reassuring Germans that she knows spying when she sees it. Her opponents have nonetheless seized on the issue as a way to diminish the credibility of a politician who remains largely trusted and popular in opinion polls.The chancellor’s remarks were a measure of her political tenacity, as well as that of the issue before her. Having grown up in the former East Germany, where the secret police inserted itself into every corner of life, Ms. Merkel’s comments were aimed at reassuring Germans that she knows spying when she sees it. Her opponents have nonetheless seized on the issue as a way to diminish the credibility of a politician who remains largely trusted and popular in opinion polls.
The Social Democratic Party and the Greens, the main rivals to the chancellor’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, have sought to portray Ms. Merkel as being untruthful about the extent of her knowledge, insisting that she must have known more than she has acknowledged about the collaboration with the United States because responsibility for the intelligence services falls to the chancellery.The Social Democratic Party and the Greens, the main rivals to the chancellor’s center-right Christian Democratic Union, have sought to portray Ms. Merkel as being untruthful about the extent of her knowledge, insisting that she must have known more than she has acknowledged about the collaboration with the United States because responsibility for the intelligence services falls to the chancellery.
Given their history, Germans are touchy about any measures they perceive as jeopardizing their right to personal privacy — including their digital data — and were angered by statements by Edward J. Snowden, the former intelligence contractor, that the N.S.A. was monitoring their communications. Much of that anger was redirected at Ms. Merkel’s government, after Mr. Snowden said in an interview released this week that Germany’s intelligence services cooperate with their American counterparts.Given their history, Germans are touchy about any measures they perceive as jeopardizing their right to personal privacy — including their digital data — and were angered by statements by Edward J. Snowden, the former intelligence contractor, that the N.S.A. was monitoring their communications. Much of that anger was redirected at Ms. Merkel’s government, after Mr. Snowden said in an interview released this week that Germany’s intelligence services cooperate with their American counterparts.
After the first round of disclosures, in which Mr. Snowden charged that Germany was the most spied-upon country in Europe — viewed by American intelligence as equally important to China — Ms. Merkel said that she and President Obama had discussed the issue during his visit to Berlin last month. She seemed to hope the matter would die down after she appeared alongside Mr. Obama, assuring Germans that she would seek answers about the surveillance. She also called the level of spying on Germans “unacceptable,” comparing such tactics to those used during the cold war.After the first round of disclosures, in which Mr. Snowden charged that Germany was the most spied-upon country in Europe — viewed by American intelligence as equally important to China — Ms. Merkel said that she and President Obama had discussed the issue during his visit to Berlin last month. She seemed to hope the matter would die down after she appeared alongside Mr. Obama, assuring Germans that she would seek answers about the surveillance. She also called the level of spying on Germans “unacceptable,” comparing such tactics to those used during the cold war.
When she announced last week that a German delegation would head to Washington to demand answers, her main rivals, the center-left Social Democrats, scoffed at the idea that bureaucrats would be able to gain insight into American intelligence programs, insisting the issue must be dealt with at the political level.When she announced last week that a German delegation would head to Washington to demand answers, her main rivals, the center-left Social Democrats, scoffed at the idea that bureaucrats would be able to gain insight into American intelligence programs, insisting the issue must be dealt with at the political level.
Peer Steinbrück, the leading Social Democratic candidate, questioned the chancellor’s decision to proceed with trans-Atlantic trade talks, which opened Monday despite an attempt by President François Hollande of France to delay them until Washington had responded to European questions about the N.S.A. program.Peer Steinbrück, the leading Social Democratic candidate, questioned the chancellor’s decision to proceed with trans-Atlantic trade talks, which opened Monday despite an attempt by President François Hollande of France to delay them until Washington had responded to European questions about the N.S.A. program.
“It is the task of the chancellor to speak with the American president, to deliver a clear message to the Americans that they should immediately stop spying on the German people,” Mr. Steinbrück said.“It is the task of the chancellor to speak with the American president, to deliver a clear message to the Americans that they should immediately stop spying on the German people,” Mr. Steinbrück said.
A clear majority of Germans would like to see the chancellor take a strong position against the Americans, according to a survey conducted last week by the polling firm infratest dimap for the television station ARD. Seventy-eight percent said she should put more pressure on the Obama administration to offer answers.A clear majority of Germans would like to see the chancellor take a strong position against the Americans, according to a survey conducted last week by the polling firm infratest dimap for the television station ARD. Seventy-eight percent said she should put more pressure on the Obama administration to offer answers.
Yet the latest polls also indicate that the outrage about N.S.A. spying has not been strong enough to change Germans’ views that Ms. Merkel remains the best person to lead them for the next four years. A survey conducted by Forsa pollsters for Stern magazine released Wednesday showed support for the chancellor’s party at 41 percent, unchanged from April. Its junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats, earned 5 percent, ensuring its entry into Parliament and allowing Ms. Merkel to govern with her current coalition.Yet the latest polls also indicate that the outrage about N.S.A. spying has not been strong enough to change Germans’ views that Ms. Merkel remains the best person to lead them for the next four years. A survey conducted by Forsa pollsters for Stern magazine released Wednesday showed support for the chancellor’s party at 41 percent, unchanged from April. Its junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats, earned 5 percent, ensuring its entry into Parliament and allowing Ms. Merkel to govern with her current coalition.
On Thursday, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, the chancellor’s top security official, arrived in Washington to meet with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., among others, to discuss German anger over the allegations that the United States bugged the diplomatic missions of Germany and other European allies and demand clarification about the level of spying.On Thursday, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, the chancellor’s top security official, arrived in Washington to meet with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., among others, to discuss German anger over the allegations that the United States bugged the diplomatic missions of Germany and other European allies and demand clarification about the level of spying.
“I would like to make clear to our American partners how important it is to ensure things are proportionate in terms of the personal rights of our citizens,” the interior minister said in a statement before his departure.“I would like to make clear to our American partners how important it is to ensure things are proportionate in terms of the personal rights of our citizens,” the interior minister said in a statement before his departure.
In the Die Zeit interview, Ms. Merkel also reminded Germans of the important role the United States has played in the country’s postwar history.In the Die Zeit interview, Ms. Merkel also reminded Germans of the important role the United States has played in the country’s postwar history.
“I would like us to conduct the necessary discussion with the U.S. in a spirit that, for all the more-than-justified questions, never forgets that America has been, and is, our most loyal ally over all the decades,” Ms. Merkel was quoted as saying.“I would like us to conduct the necessary discussion with the U.S. in a spirit that, for all the more-than-justified questions, never forgets that America has been, and is, our most loyal ally over all the decades,” Ms. Merkel was quoted as saying.