Never can a democratic leader have lasted so long and achieved so little that is positive – apart from achieving Brexit! Not even Nigel Farage can be thanked more than Angela Merkel for achieving UK’s exit from the EU.
I’m inclined to agree. If she hadn’t told him to FO, Cameron would have sold fake control of people movement from EU states into the UK as a substantial concession and likely won the referendum. The rest is history.
Not forgetting her decision to open the floodgates on immigration precisely at the time of the Brexit referendum campaign, despite Cameron begging her not to.
It’s entirely possible that was precisely her intention – get rid of her only serious rival in the EU (not Cameron, but the UK) and job done. Adolf would have been delighted – only France to contend with, and look how well that’s worked out (for France, not : 3:1 so far, to the Germans)
AC Harper
2 years ago
Most long-running senior politicians secure their positions through good governance (if you’re lucky) or through disabling competition for their post (if you are not lucky) both of which are democracy in practice.
But when disabling competition includes making sure that there are no competitors within your own party/coalition then that eventually leads to problems. In business enlightened managers train up people to take over – continuity is important. Merkel fails that test.
Last edited 2 years ago by AC Harper
Jacques Rossat
2 years ago
Alas not in a position to credibly comment on the many interesting claims in the column but, for sure, “Shutting down nuclear energy after Fukushima and later phasing out coal pleased the Greens but raised the question of how to secure a growing energy supply. The answer was making Germany dependent on Russian gas, to the dismay of the United States” were 2 emotionally-based decisions which will have tragic long-time consequences on the whole Continent.
James Joyce
2 years ago
I have just returned from Aachen, DE. It was filthy, bordering on disgusting. There was litter and graffiti everywhere, and few Germans about. I did overhear and obviously non-German Middle Eastern- looking person on the phone in broken German say “Guten Tag, Amadou.” Once upon a time, this might have been a comic’s punchline; today it is reality. The famed German roads were nothing special either, seemingly old and in need of repair in many places. Alles nicht in Ordnung.
Much of this is Mutti’s responsibility. The costs of this mass migration of (rabbits in Australia, pythons in the Everglades [afraid to use the scientific term for fear or UnHerd flags]) is considerable and Germany will never be the same. It may never be German again. Other decisions–no nuclear after Fukishima–are simply beyond stupid. How the Germans repeatedly voted for this evil nutter is beyond me.
Mutti was a vile, evil, despicable person, the second worst German chancellor ever, though Olaf may give her stiff competition. Germany is doomed.
Of course we fondly imagine that earlier civilizations’ collapses were due to unelected despotism but Germany, and indeed the UK, are proving that collapse can just as easily happen by what amounts to popular consent. I think it’s because the populace understands what’s happening, and where it will lead, but is unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary for a better outcome.
Here is a (translated) response to a recent (April, 2023) Facebook post (a post which affirmed precisely that Germany’s one remaining hope is the AfD): “The AfD has been declared the Great Satan to such an extent that every action and every statement is measured against whether the AfD could possibly agree with it. Germans would rather be tied to the martyr’s stake for the rest of their lives than be associated in any way with this demonised party.” Fatalistic, but undoubtedly a correct assessment of the political situation in Germany. Such is the deep-seated fear of being considered in any way “right-wing” that most Germans would rather see their country go to the wall than vote for the AfD. This is even true in the federal states of the former GDR, where support (in the polls) for the AfD is highest. The most the AfD can manage is 30%. The other parties, including the CDU and Die Linke, would rather form a so-called “Blockpartei” (a coalition right across the – alleged – political “spectrum”) than have anything to do with the AfD in government.
Dermot O'Sullivan
2 years ago
‘The list of unresolved problems Merkel leaves behind is long.’
Of course it is.
john zac
2 years ago
How much influence did the raging imperialistic force have over her? She owes this bit of information to her people
Aldo Maccione
2 years ago
Only Saint Obama can boast a wider reverence, for as little achievement.
Never can a democratic leader have lasted so long and achieved so little that is positive – apart from achieving Brexit! Not even Nigel Farage can be thanked more than Angela Merkel for achieving UK’s exit from the EU.
I’m inclined to agree. If she hadn’t told him to FO, Cameron would have sold fake control of people movement from EU states into the UK as a substantial concession and likely won the referendum. The rest is history.
Not forgetting her decision to open the floodgates on immigration precisely at the time of the Brexit referendum campaign, despite Cameron begging her not to.
I suppose you can at least credit her with bigger balls than our lot. Can anyone imagine a UK PM telling a leader of a ‘friend and ally’ to do one?
It’s entirely possible that was precisely her intention – get rid of her only serious rival in the EU (not Cameron, but the UK) and job done. Adolf would have been delighted – only France to contend with, and look how well that’s worked out (for France, not : 3:1 so far, to the Germans)
Most long-running senior politicians secure their positions through good governance (if you’re lucky) or through disabling competition for their post (if you are not lucky) both of which are democracy in practice.
But when disabling competition includes making sure that there are no competitors within your own party/coalition then that eventually leads to problems. In business enlightened managers train up people to take over – continuity is important. Merkel fails that test.
Alas not in a position to credibly comment on the many interesting claims in the column but, for sure, “Shutting down nuclear energy after Fukushima and later phasing out coal pleased the Greens but raised the question of how to secure a growing energy supply. The answer was making Germany dependent on Russian gas, to the dismay of the United States” were 2 emotionally-based decisions which will have tragic long-time consequences on the whole Continent.
I have just returned from Aachen, DE. It was filthy, bordering on disgusting. There was litter and graffiti everywhere, and few Germans about. I did overhear and obviously non-German Middle Eastern- looking person on the phone in broken German say “Guten Tag, Amadou.” Once upon a time, this might have been a comic’s punchline; today it is reality. The famed German roads were nothing special either, seemingly old and in need of repair in many places. Alles nicht in Ordnung.
Much of this is Mutti’s responsibility. The costs of this mass migration of (rabbits in Australia, pythons in the Everglades [afraid to use the scientific term for fear or UnHerd flags]) is considerable and Germany will never be the same. It may never be German again. Other decisions–no nuclear after Fukishima–are simply beyond stupid. How the Germans repeatedly voted for this evil nutter is beyond me.
Mutti was a vile, evil, despicable person, the second worst German chancellor ever, though Olaf may give her stiff competition. Germany is doomed.
Of course we fondly imagine that earlier civilizations’ collapses were due to unelected despotism but Germany, and indeed the UK, are proving that collapse can just as easily happen by what amounts to popular consent. I think it’s because the populace understands what’s happening, and where it will lead, but is unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary for a better outcome.
Who was the worst
I don’t buy it.
Merkel simply provided what European voters wanted.
The blame is with European decadence.
Ironically, the only hope is with AfD
Quite but Germans are frit, like the French, and won’t vote AfD in sufficient numbers to make a difference.
The 38th century’s Gibbon will use that as this civilisation’s epitaph.
Leaders are supposed to lead and not pander
Last time we had one of those was in 1990. None since.
Here is a (translated) response to a recent (April, 2023) Facebook post (a post which affirmed precisely that Germany’s one remaining hope is the AfD): “The AfD has been declared the Great Satan to such an extent that every action and every statement is measured against whether the AfD could possibly agree with it. Germans would rather be tied to the martyr’s stake for the rest of their lives than be associated in any way with this demonised party.” Fatalistic, but undoubtedly a correct assessment of the political situation in Germany. Such is the deep-seated fear of being considered in any way “right-wing” that most Germans would rather see their country go to the wall than vote for the AfD. This is even true in the federal states of the former GDR, where support (in the polls) for the AfD is highest. The most the AfD can manage is 30%. The other parties, including the CDU and Die Linke, would rather form a so-called “Blockpartei” (a coalition right across the – alleged – political “spectrum”) than have anything to do with the AfD in government.
‘The list of unresolved problems Merkel leaves behind is long.’
Of course it is.
How much influence did the raging imperialistic force have over her? She owes this bit of information to her people
Only Saint Obama can boast a wider reverence, for as little achievement.