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After Rewarding Merkel, Germans Seek Focus at Home After Rewarding Merkel, Germans Seek Focus at Home
(about 4 hours later)
BERLIN — If the German election campaign came across as staid — and it would be hard to argue it was anything but— Sunday’s vote showed that above all, the country appreciates the stable, safe course that Chancellor Angela Merkel charted during her first two terms, so much so that they awarded her a third.BERLIN — If the German election campaign came across as staid — and it would be hard to argue it was anything but— Sunday’s vote showed that above all, the country appreciates the stable, safe course that Chancellor Angela Merkel charted during her first two terms, so much so that they awarded her a third.
Ms. Merkel, who is known more for colorful jackets than a colorful personality, seemed to say as much on Monday, repeating at least three times that Germany needed stable government as she began the hard task of forming a new governing coalition. Ms. Merkel, who is known for her colorful jackets, seemed to say as much on Monday, repeating at least three times that Germany needed stable government as she began the hard task of forming a new governing coalition.
Asked whether her dark turquoise jacket signaled a possible bond with the Green Party, she said, “I stood in front of my closet today and thought: ‘Can’t do red, bright green won’t work,’ ” naming the colors associated with two competing parties. Instead, she said, she chose “something neutral.” Asked whether her dark turquoise jacket signaled a possible bond with the Green Party, she said, “I stood in front of my closet today and thought: ‘Can’t do red, bright green won’t work,’ ” naming the colors associated with two competing parties. Instead, she said, she chose “something neutral.”
Realistically, though, her only political choice is a “grand coalition” with the opposition left-leaning Social Democrats, who will doubtless drive a hard bargain over economic and social justice issues, like a minimum wage, help for the unemployed, gay marriage or child and health care before agreeing to any new pact.Realistically, though, her only political choice is a “grand coalition” with the opposition left-leaning Social Democrats, who will doubtless drive a hard bargain over economic and social justice issues, like a minimum wage, help for the unemployed, gay marriage or child and health care before agreeing to any new pact.
The Social Democrats’ demands will make more claims on government funds, which at the state and local level are scarce, despite Ms. Merkel’s campaign boasts of record tax revenues.The Social Democrats’ demands will make more claims on government funds, which at the state and local level are scarce, despite Ms. Merkel’s campaign boasts of record tax revenues.
All that is likely to reinforce suspicions at home about the wisdom of sending money abroad to bail out Germany’s neighbors, and complaints abroad that Germany under Ms. Merkel has not shown the forceful leadership needed by the European Union to lance its years of recession.All that is likely to reinforce suspicions at home about the wisdom of sending money abroad to bail out Germany’s neighbors, and complaints abroad that Germany under Ms. Merkel has not shown the forceful leadership needed by the European Union to lance its years of recession.
Ms. Merkel defended Sunday’s vote as confirming the view of Europe that she outlined at every campaign stop. “On all the squares, I talked about how important Europe is,” she noted on Monday, “not just economically, but as a community of shared values,” of freedom. She recalled that, 10 years or so ago, Germany was “the sick man of Europe,” but that it acted to heal itself and is now successful. “What we have done, everyone else can do,” she said, striking the very tone Southern Europe has come to dread.Ms. Merkel defended Sunday’s vote as confirming the view of Europe that she outlined at every campaign stop. “On all the squares, I talked about how important Europe is,” she noted on Monday, “not just economically, but as a community of shared values,” of freedom. She recalled that, 10 years or so ago, Germany was “the sick man of Europe,” but that it acted to heal itself and is now successful. “What we have done, everyone else can do,” she said, striking the very tone Southern Europe has come to dread.
Yet if the complaint in Europe is that Ms. Merkel has not been engaged — or understanding — enough about the problems of others, many Germans see it differently. If anything, the campaign showed that they want more of Ms. Merkel’s attention focused at home.Yet if the complaint in Europe is that Ms. Merkel has not been engaged — or understanding — enough about the problems of others, many Germans see it differently. If anything, the campaign showed that they want more of Ms. Merkel’s attention focused at home.
“The German chancellor has focused on foreign policy since the start of the international financial crisis and the euro crisis,” the leftist Berliner Zeitung wrote. “She has been the leading voice in Europe and played a not insignificant role in questions of global finance. But not much happened on the domestic policy front, because nothing goes without her. Important tasks need to be addressed: reform of old-age nursing insurance, the pension system, education. Things can’t stay as they are for another four years.”“The German chancellor has focused on foreign policy since the start of the international financial crisis and the euro crisis,” the leftist Berliner Zeitung wrote. “She has been the leading voice in Europe and played a not insignificant role in questions of global finance. But not much happened on the domestic policy front, because nothing goes without her. Important tasks need to be addressed: reform of old-age nursing insurance, the pension system, education. Things can’t stay as they are for another four years.”
By common agreement, Germany’s infrastructure — physical and technological — need renewing.By common agreement, Germany’s infrastructure — physical and technological — need renewing.
Ms. Merkel may hope that the crisis in Europe stays calm enough for her to tackle other pressing issues at home — among them demographic decline, the failure to integrate immigrants and the widespread calls for education reform, from kindergarten through universities.Ms. Merkel may hope that the crisis in Europe stays calm enough for her to tackle other pressing issues at home — among them demographic decline, the failure to integrate immigrants and the widespread calls for education reform, from kindergarten through universities.
Europe is “in the middle of an adjustment decade” that has affected many countries, Jörg Asmussen, senior board member of the European Central Bank, said in an interview before the election.Europe is “in the middle of an adjustment decade” that has affected many countries, Jörg Asmussen, senior board member of the European Central Bank, said in an interview before the election.
When talk turned on Monday to firming a coalition government, Ms. Merkel refused to discuss what Germans should expect. She said that she had called the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Sigmar Gabriel, who told her he is holding a party meeting on Friday.When talk turned on Monday to firming a coalition government, Ms. Merkel refused to discuss what Germans should expect. She said that she had called the chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Sigmar Gabriel, who told her he is holding a party meeting on Friday.
“The Social Democratic Party is not lining up or courting,” Mr. Gabriel said in an interview, mindful of how the party’s vote slumped to 23 percent of the total in 2009, from 34 percent in 2005.“The Social Democratic Party is not lining up or courting,” Mr. Gabriel said in an interview, mindful of how the party’s vote slumped to 23 percent of the total in 2009, from 34 percent in 2005.
Ms. Merkel’s allies, the Free Democrats, also slumped in voter favor and did not make it into Parliament. The extreme left Left Party refused to abandon stances against NATO and military engagement abroad and did not climb out of single digits, leading the Social Democrats to say they cannot be included in government.Ms. Merkel’s allies, the Free Democrats, also slumped in voter favor and did not make it into Parliament. The extreme left Left Party refused to abandon stances against NATO and military engagement abroad and did not climb out of single digits, leading the Social Democrats to say they cannot be included in government.
The Greens suffered such a loss that their entire national leadership resigned Monday, as did the leader of the Free Democrats. The threat posed by the anti-euro protest party, Alternative for Germany, evaporated when it, too, just missed the 5 percent hurdle to win seats in Parliament.The Greens suffered such a loss that their entire national leadership resigned Monday, as did the leader of the Free Democrats. The threat posed by the anti-euro protest party, Alternative for Germany, evaporated when it, too, just missed the 5 percent hurdle to win seats in Parliament.
In contrast to all that reordering, Ms. Merkel “exudes stability — indomitable stability,” said Constanze Stelzenmüller of the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. “Merkel’s immense strength is that she has, I think, no narcissism, and no neediness. She is not dependent on politics to give her life meaning, and that I think is a source of immense strength.”In contrast to all that reordering, Ms. Merkel “exudes stability — indomitable stability,” said Constanze Stelzenmüller of the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. “Merkel’s immense strength is that she has, I think, no narcissism, and no neediness. She is not dependent on politics to give her life meaning, and that I think is a source of immense strength.”