Gero Neugebauer
Gero Neugebauer
affect biggest change dependent germany global government obviously problem sure
Unemployment is obviously the biggest problem at the moment. But I'm not sure if the new government can really affect change in that department. Germany is too dependent on the global development.
agree fear flat losers people starting uncertain
Even if people agree with the need for reforms, they are uncertain about the flat tax. They are starting to fear that they could be the losers in this reform.
absolutely choice rein room tackle zero
Merkel has absolutely no choice but to rein in spending. She'll have zero room for maneuver if she doesn't tackle the deficit.
economic german germans harbor power quite social steam strong system whether
She probably has enough steam to get into the harbor . . . but whether she will have the power to overhaul the German system is, I think, quite unlikely. Germans want some economic reforms, sure. But not Reaganomics that take away traditional strong social protections.
again becomes candidate criticize help political pushing several
They aren't able to criticize her, that would help Schroeder. But if Merkel becomes chancellor, then she will be the candidate again in 2007, pushing back their political ambitions for several years.
affairs current gap mood public reality state
It is really a gap between the communicated state of affairs and reality. The public mood is much better than one would think it would be in the current situation.
backing firm initial leadership planned position prime received repeated somewhat state step strategy sure taking whether
We're still not sure whether all this is a planned strategy of the SPD leadership or if they are taking it step by step. It put the CDU under initial pressure, but it somewhat backfired, as Merkel's position has received firm and repeated backing from her state prime ministers.
criticism critics-and-criticism directed grand inside mean price race
I think that there has been criticism directed at Schroeder from inside the party. Schroeder is doing some downgrading of the price of a grand coalition, but that doesn't mean he is completely out of the race for chancellor.
believe campaign model pay people tax true
When he started to think that people could believe his model could become true then the campaign was weakened. People hesitated. They started to think if they would have to pay more tax than before.
ballots conflicts finally form goal likely major overcome people punish sick
That can't be the goal of any of the major parties. The people would likely punish them at the ballots for not being able to overcome their inner-party conflicts and finally form a government. They're sick of it.
chancellor good image skepticism suffers
Skepticism was big when Merkel started. Now the CDU is profiting from the good image of Chancellor Merkel and all that went well in the government, while the SPD suffers from all that went wrong.
coalition grand might neither nor
A grand coalition is the likeliest option, but who will become chancellor, no one could yet predict. In the end, it might be neither Schroeder nor Merkel.