Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL highlighted Germany’s economic strength as she kicked off campaigning today for an important state vote that comes months before national elections, and she brushed aside worries about the weakness of her party’s coalition partner.
Merkel’s center-right party faces a tough battle to extend its 10-year hold on Lower Saxony state, a northwestern region of 8 million people, in the 20 January election there. Polls suggest the centre-left opposition has a good chance of winning, which would give it a significant boost ahead of September national elections in which Merkel will seek a third term.
Merkel made clear that her Christian Democrats will make “economic competence, together with jobs – and jobs that are well-qualified and fairly paid,” along with economic strength, a keystone of this year’s campaigns. She identified opposition plans for tax increases as one battleground.
“We believe that we do, of course, need income for the state, so we are not talking about tax cuts at this point,” Merkel said at a televised news conference after her party’s leadership met in Wilhelmshaven, a port city in Lower Saxony.
“But we believe that tax increases … are not good for current economic developments, for medium-sized companies in particular but also for big companies,” she added.
Unemployment
The number of Germans out of work averaged just under 2.9 million last year, the lowest since 1991. Germany’s jobless rate of less than 7 percent contrasts with figures well over 20 percent in troubled eurozone partners Greece and Spain.
The strong German economy, and Merkel’s hard-nosed management of Europe’s debt crisis, have helped keep her popularity high and her party ahead in polls.
But the weakness of the pro-market Free Democratic Party, her junior coalition partner, means that her center-right alliance lacks a majority in surveys. The party, which campaigned at Germany’s last election for tax cuts that it failed to obtain, has taken much of the blame for frequent coalition squabbling.
In Lower Saxony, polls show the FDP short of the 5 percent support needed to stay in the state legislature, which endangers popular conservative governor David McAllister’s chances of keeping his job.
Optimistic
However, Merkel said she is “very optimistic that the (Free Democrats) will, on their own strength, with their ideas and their share in the success of the work of both the Lower Saxony state government and the federal government, be able to convince people.”
The Lower Saxony election follows a rough start for Merkel’s center-left challenger in the national elections, former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck.
He drew criticism this week for saying the chancellor earns too little and that Merkel has an advantage because she’s a woman – adding to earlier controversy over his high earnings from public speaking. Merkel coolly dismissed a question about her challenger’s performance.
“To be honest, I take care of my own performance and I’m very satisfied with that,” she said. “The rest is for others to comment on.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Interesting that she thinks tax increases aren’t good for small and large enterprises in Germany but has imposed high tax increases on the Irish people through the bank dept deal.
The Frog Blog
First you should read the story. She made the comment about the Region in which the election is being held not in Germany as a whole. Second you should try to explain how Angela Merkel has any specific influence on the interest rates being charged to Ireland under an EU/IMF Bailout Loan Agreement after the rest of the world basically stopped lending to us?
Will Enda be going over to give her a hand
No not a hand. More like his ass on a silver platter.
Not at all. His arse is well insulated.
Its our and our kids’ he’s handing over. With a garnish of shamrock tastefully arranged.
Course he will….who else will run to get her coffee..
Damien
As ever the eloquent contributor. The kids you talk about must be very proud of Daddy and his vulgarity. They will also grow up with wonderful ideas of respect and behavioural decency as they copy Daddy.
I honestly cant read/listen/talk any more about this tripe!
I give up, I don’t care anymore.
The tripe I can handle Creamy,it’s that troll colins I detest.
your not allowed to give up dammit!!that means they won..!!!
What’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander
No story on the journal about the 1000 guards that will given a 3yr career break… Not enough money to pay them. I’m aware no relevance to the article above.
Id call it very relevant Emmet.
Hope she’s fecked :)
Ve Germans are not all smiles und sunshine http://vimeo.com/m/10752016
Enda eunuch poodle Kenny will be in attendance to show where his loyalties really are supporting his mammy Merkel. Mammy Merkel who presented Enda with the euro golden star butt kissing award will be happy to have her favourite poodle at her beck and call. Enda will continue to urinate on the Irish but will not piss off Merkel.
as we speak angela has bellenda bent over and is giving him the full strudel..
have your say