Criticism of Angela Merkel is nothing new. This week, though, it was ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl who found sharp words for his erstwhile protégé. With her foreign minister also under fire, things are not looking good for Merkel in upcoming state elections.
Everyone knew that this year would be a difficult one for Chancellor Angela Merkel. As 2010 drew to a close, her governing coalition seemed incapable of agreeing on much of anything, a series of state elections threatened to eat into her party’s power and euro-zone debt concerns had yet to be alleviated.
Few, though, foresaw things getting quite as bad for Merkel and her government as they have this week. Not only is the chancellor facing significant doubts from within her conservative Christian Democrats regarding the Greece bailout package recently assembled by euro-zone member states, but Berlin’s decision to stay out of the fight for Libya has never looked more short-sighted and self-serving than now.
The criticism has been withering. In reference to Libya , media commentators have begun referring to the Berlin “debacle” and “Germany’s shame.” More concerning for Merkel, however, is the heft provided by condemnation from the likes of German President Christian Wulff , former Interior Minister Gerhart Baum and ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
All three have weighed in this week — and all three have furthered the widely held view in Germany that Merkel and her Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle do not have a firm grip on the rudder of the ship of state.
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Afternoon Updates:
12:41 pm EDT, August 27th, 2011 — Assertive Germany now vital if euro debacle to be resolved