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| Angela Merkel: saviour or tormentor? Europeans give verdict | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Efficient, organised and successful. Arrogant, dominant and authoritarian. Saviour of the European project. Merciless tormentor of anyone south of the "olive line". For some, the eurozone would have collapsed without German leadership. For others, tens of millions of southerners would have been better off without it. | Efficient, organised and successful. Arrogant, dominant and authoritarian. Saviour of the European project. Merciless tormentor of anyone south of the "olive line". For some, the eurozone would have collapsed without German leadership. For others, tens of millions of southerners would have been better off without it. |
| In the runup to German elections this month that will have a crucial bearing on the rest of the continent, the Guardian, Le Monde in France, El País in Spain and La Stampa in Italy asked readers for their view of German leadership in the euro crisis, as well as of the vote itself. The exercise generated a surprisingly robust response from more than 7,000 readers. Such surveys can never be statistically relevant because of the self-selecting nature of the exercise. But among the jokes and hostility – and the inevitable rogue entries from people calling themselves things like Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Philip Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg – certain trends were unavoidable. | In the runup to German elections this month that will have a crucial bearing on the rest of the continent, the Guardian, Le Monde in France, El País in Spain and La Stampa in Italy asked readers for their view of German leadership in the euro crisis, as well as of the vote itself. The exercise generated a surprisingly robust response from more than 7,000 readers. Such surveys can never be statistically relevant because of the self-selecting nature of the exercise. But among the jokes and hostility – and the inevitable rogue entries from people calling themselves things like Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Philip Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg – certain trends were unavoidable. |
| In the Spanish survey, the overwhelming tone of the response was negative. "Germany is looking to increase its power, imposing solutions that go well in Germany," wrote Alessandro Gimenez. "It's trying to change the southern countries into a cheap workforce, without rights or legal or work security. It perceives the euro as a single currency when it is convenient to do so and as a confederation of currencies when it is in its interest." | In the Spanish survey, the overwhelming tone of the response was negative. "Germany is looking to increase its power, imposing solutions that go well in Germany," wrote Alessandro Gimenez. "It's trying to change the southern countries into a cheap workforce, without rights or legal or work security. It perceives the euro as a single currency when it is convenient to do so and as a confederation of currencies when it is in its interest." |
| Karen González said Germany had profited from the crisis, abandoned the EU's core principles and had "preferred patching things up than undertaking a true cure at the heart of these problems which are now suffocating countries like Spain, which could backfire". | Karen González said Germany had profited from the crisis, abandoned the EU's core principles and had "preferred patching things up than undertaking a true cure at the heart of these problems which are now suffocating countries like Spain, which could backfire". |
| Germany's insistence on fiscal rigour in return for EU bailout funds had made matters worse in countries crying out for a bit of growth to lessen the pain, many readers opined. | Germany's insistence on fiscal rigour in return for EU bailout funds had made matters worse in countries crying out for a bit of growth to lessen the pain, many readers opined. |
| In recent months, the eurozone crisis has gone into another of its periodic remissions, as government borrowing costs have tracked lower and the continent shows a few delicate signs of economic recovery. | In recent months, the eurozone crisis has gone into another of its periodic remissions, as government borrowing costs have tracked lower and the continent shows a few delicate signs of economic recovery. |
| But for Greeks such as Ioannis Pelegrinis, the worst is still to come. "The German leadership is clearly looking out for its own financial interests, as the government of any sovereign country should. Unfortunately, they are doing so at the expense of other EU and eurozone members. That exactly is the sort of attitude that will bring the dissolution of the EU." | But for Greeks such as Ioannis Pelegrinis, the worst is still to come. "The German leadership is clearly looking out for its own financial interests, as the government of any sovereign country should. Unfortunately, they are doing so at the expense of other EU and eurozone members. That exactly is the sort of attitude that will bring the dissolution of the EU." |
| Italians produced a very mixed response, with plenty of criticism tempered by the occasional vote of confidence. "We should be grateful to Germany for the structural changes we've seen in Europe," wrote Lorenzo Iorio. Ezio Dallocchio urged Italians to be more charitable. "They are a model economically and politically for others to copy and not to hate as many of us stupid Italians do." | Italians produced a very mixed response, with plenty of criticism tempered by the occasional vote of confidence. "We should be grateful to Germany for the structural changes we've seen in Europe," wrote Lorenzo Iorio. Ezio Dallocchio urged Italians to be more charitable. "They are a model economically and politically for others to copy and not to hate as many of us stupid Italians do." |
| Northern Europeans were more inclined to give Germans the benefit of the doubt – though many respondents argued that Berlin is acting in its own national interests and not through any broader motivation as a quasi-European leader. | Northern Europeans were more inclined to give Germans the benefit of the doubt – though many respondents argued that Berlin is acting in its own national interests and not through any broader motivation as a quasi-European leader. |
| Briton Darren Mills said: "The chancellor and her country have stood steadfast behind their neighbours and EU partners. This is even though the path followed by Germany is not the one that will bring acclamation, or even necessarily benefit. Leadership is not necessarily the art of being 100% correct, it is the art of being seen to be strong and at the forefront. Germany has shown leadership, more importantly considered leadership." | Briton Darren Mills said: "The chancellor and her country have stood steadfast behind their neighbours and EU partners. This is even though the path followed by Germany is not the one that will bring acclamation, or even necessarily benefit. Leadership is not necessarily the art of being 100% correct, it is the art of being seen to be strong and at the forefront. Germany has shown leadership, more importantly considered leadership." |
| On the subject of leadership, some respondents argued Germany had demonstrated too much arrogance, while others sensed a reluctance – born of historical precedence – to assume control. All of which left one anonymous respondent to quip: "If you're being criticised from both sides, you've probably found the centre ground." | On the subject of leadership, some respondents argued Germany had demonstrated too much arrogance, while others sensed a reluctance – born of historical precedence – to assume control. All of which left one anonymous respondent to quip: "If you're being criticised from both sides, you've probably found the centre ground." |
| That centre ground had enabled Germany to emerge pre-eminent in Europe, according to some. "Germany has managed to pull a coup over the European Central Bank and has almost complete control. Even France, which has a huge economy and powerful global influence, has lost all real influence," remarked Briton Robert Lowe. | That centre ground had enabled Germany to emerge pre-eminent in Europe, according to some. "Germany has managed to pull a coup over the European Central Bank and has almost complete control. Even France, which has a huge economy and powerful global influence, has lost all real influence," remarked Briton Robert Lowe. |
| With elections looming on 22 September, few respondents expected a big change in policy to emanate from Berlin. Most predicted the re-election of Angela Merkel , and Mattia Tognoni, from Italy, said: "Merkel's victory unfortunately won't help countries in difficulty. Anyway, I don't think the German population wants to help those with problems elsewhere and so whoever wins the election will keep this in mind." | With elections looming on 22 September, few respondents expected a big change in policy to emanate from Berlin. Most predicted the re-election of Angela Merkel , and Mattia Tognoni, from Italy, said: "Merkel's victory unfortunately won't help countries in difficulty. Anyway, I don't think the German population wants to help those with problems elsewhere and so whoever wins the election will keep this in mind." |
| Not everyone had given up on SPD challenger, Peer Steinbrück, just yet. Willy Tinner, who lives in Switzerland, believed the elections "will have an effect on European politics. If the left win we can leave the disastrous politics of austerity behind". | Not everyone had given up on SPD challenger, Peer Steinbrück, just yet. Willy Tinner, who lives in Switzerland, believed the elections "will have an effect on European politics. If the left win we can leave the disastrous politics of austerity behind". |
| As for Merkel, some saw a stubborn control freak acting in her country's interests, while others were more charitable, viewing her as a pragmatist who could see the bigger picture. Dutchwoman Anouk van den Waal argued that: "If there could be an emergency machine that manufactures leaders in a crisis, Mrs Merkel is probably something we would have programmed into it. To Europeans, she doesn't seem to have ideology, she is pragmatic, I don't think many could say if she was left or rightwing. She doesn't take risks, she is quietly strong, she is consensual." | As for Merkel, some saw a stubborn control freak acting in her country's interests, while others were more charitable, viewing her as a pragmatist who could see the bigger picture. Dutchwoman Anouk van den Waal argued that: "If there could be an emergency machine that manufactures leaders in a crisis, Mrs Merkel is probably something we would have programmed into it. To Europeans, she doesn't seem to have ideology, she is pragmatic, I don't think many could say if she was left or rightwing. She doesn't take risks, she is quietly strong, she is consensual." |
| Some argued that Merkel had been right to stick by her insistence on reform as a quid pro quo for bailouts, but quibbled with the manner she had gone about her business, failing to sell her policies effectively to her partners in Europe. And the further south you went, the terser the responses on Merkel. | Some argued that Merkel had been right to stick by her insistence on reform as a quid pro quo for bailouts, but quibbled with the manner she had gone about her business, failing to sell her policies effectively to her partners in Europe. And the further south you went, the terser the responses on Merkel. |
| "Merkel has only thought of the German economy and by extension, of her votes," wrote David Revilla Velasco, a Spaniard. "Another chancellor, even from the same party, would have had a vision which was less localist and closed, and who even at the risk of self-sacrifice would have done more for the currency and for Europe. Merkel's recipe is 'Bread for me and for today, and hunger for all tomorrow'." | "Merkel has only thought of the German economy and by extension, of her votes," wrote David Revilla Velasco, a Spaniard. "Another chancellor, even from the same party, would have had a vision which was less localist and closed, and who even at the risk of self-sacrifice would have done more for the currency and for Europe. Merkel's recipe is 'Bread for me and for today, and hunger for all tomorrow'." |
| A gastronomical metaphor from a Spaniard and a typically philosophical summation from a Frenchman, Jacques Lecucq: "Mark or euro, Germany wants a strong currency, which is not the case with all its neighbours. It has achieved its objectives and Angela receives dividends. Were they wrong to be strong, were we right to be weak?" | A gastronomical metaphor from a Spaniard and a typically philosophical summation from a Frenchman, Jacques Lecucq: "Mark or euro, Germany wants a strong currency, which is not the case with all its neighbours. It has achieved its objectives and Angela receives dividends. Were they wrong to be strong, were we right to be weak?" |
| Additional reporting by Carmen Fishwick, Edmond Wax and Jessica Shepherd | Additional reporting by Carmen Fishwick, Edmond Wax and Jessica Shepherd |
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