Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

The political spectrum has changed overnight in Germany and it's like the AfD are already preaching, 'prison', for Merkel, what they claim was an illegal move to allow over a million refugees in to the Country.

It's interesting to note that the SDP, have ruled out a Coalition with Merkel's party for now, had they done so, the AfD would become the main opposition.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

I agree and therein lies the problem. None of these people want to tarnish their rightful place in history by admitting they've been wrong and doing something about a problem she largely created would be such an admission. Blair was exactly the same, the only times he ever 'admitted' mistakes and promised change for the better was just before an election. When he'd got back in office it was largely forgotten and that's what led to the rise in UKIP who may have faded as a party but whose ideals certainly haven't faded amongst large sections of society. When our mainstream parties just carry on regardless as they have for so long now they leave a vacuum into which, sooner or later, comes an articulate, charismatic extremist who takes full advantage of all the pent up anger and resentment. We know what can happen next...

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Good.

For far too long Germany has had the chip of the 1920s, 30s and 40s on her shoulder, terrified that any trace of nationalism, discontent or economic issues along those lines were a rapid route to Nazism.

Hopefully she will confront the issues raised by AfD head on, deal with the issues impassively, rather than framing everything in the spectre of those dark days, and be all the better going forward.

Germany is not leading the EU economically as she should be because she's terrified of the economic events of the 20s and early 30s repeating, which is silly, so hopefully, perhaps, the AfD will achieve a quite different result from the one they want.

On another note - isn't proportional representation wonderful? Imagine how the political landscape of the UK might look if we weren't clinging on to the most undemocratic, unrepresentative voting system out there.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

I should also mention that this doesn't help the UK either. While Merkel is busy seeking out a coalition she isn't doing anything to further the UK's agenda in Brexit. It was a hope in some quarters that she would take control of the negotiation alongside the rest of the Council, however she has other things on her mind now.

Anyone would think it might've been a good idea to have waiting until after the French and German elections to trigger A50 - even if it potentially meant the UK having an election while still having MEPs.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

... and it seems the swing to the right in Europe is being continued in Austria. By all accounts the rise in migration is in large part responsible once again and there were we being lectured by some here about how warm and welcoming to migrants places like Austria are. I wonder if they still feel the same not it seems that having experienced a fraction of the problems many other countries have had to deal with, the mood in Austria has changed. Who'd have thought that could happen eh?... :rolleyes:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a8002576.html

It's ironic that a good many people who seem to be rather taken in by Corbyn's left wing vision for the UK wish to remain tethered to an increasingly right wing EU. :spin:

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Disengaging from a continent that might be progressively more right wing has not been a winning strategy historically. ;)

The picture is complicated though. Europe hasn't turned fascist. We've seen a swing to the right over the last five years but not a take-over. Le Pen made the final round in France but got comprehensively defeated by Macron. The AfD made bigger gains that they were expected to immediately before the election but not as much as people were worried about at the end of last year with Merkel winning despite the domestic problems she had. Whilst in Holland the far-right didn't make progress.

There are warning signs sure but it's not a collapse yet.

The hope for Europe as a whole is that with the recovery of the Eurozone and the improving situation in Syria that some pressure is released over the next few years.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

No it's not a collapse or anything like it, yet, but it does prove how the policies of the EU are creating serious issues amongst member states and quite a lot of people here in the UK seem unwilling to accept that fact. In fact they were the first to whine on about the UK's supposedly right wing response yet have nothing to say about the far more extreme goings on in their beloved EU.

As for disengaging, we've been in the club for decades and very little has changed and they've rarely listened. Us being inside or not won't change what's going to happen politically but at least we'll be able to decide what we do about it. That might just be choosing the least worst option but at least we'll have a choice which won't be the case under the Juncker vision which he's made perfectly clear for us all.

I think it's highly dangerous to ignore or underestimate the ill feeling which is building up in front of our eyes and it won't just fade away whatever we do. The political movements we have been seeing in recent years would have been unthinkable not that long ago and it won't take much to set things off in one place or another and create a domino effect. The Eurocrats need to take notice of what's going on but I doubt they will, they're far too busy pursuing their grand scheme.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

I agree it needs to be taken seriously and there are real issues.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Angela Merkel's reign on Germany is on the verge of collapse, the German President has called for unity, and for parties to form a working government. Angela Merkel has been unable to form a stable government since her severely weakened election result in September.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

We'll see. If the SPD change their mind about a coalition then that would resolve it pretty quick.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Tactics to get more out of the coalition. They do it all the time, but Merkel doesn't listen. To anyone. Ever.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Might be but Merkel is, at least publically, calling their bluff saying she would prefer fresh elections if required.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Which could quite easily go against her.

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

No it's all fine over in Eurolalaland. No problems, no issues, no right swing extremism, no political uncertainty, no mass unemployment and to make it even better, all the swivel eyed, xenophobic, loons are are UK Brexiteers... :rolleyes:

Re: Disaster for Merkel?
 

Well, one out of six points is something we can build upon. :D