09-19-2016, 09:44 PM
*** 20-Sep-16 World View -- Germany's Angela Merkel expresses regret after election loss in Berlin
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Germany's Angela Merkel expresses regret after election loss in Berlin
****
![[Image: g160919b.jpg]](http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g160919b.jpg)
Food at the AfD election party in Berlin (DPA)
Germany's center-right Christian Democrat Union (CDU), led by
Chancellor Angela Merkel, suffered a historic defeat in a regional
election in Berlin on Sunday, falling off 6% since the last election,
getting only 17.6% of the vote, behind the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) at 21.6%. Most significant were the gains by the right-wing
anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland (AfD - Alternative for
Germany) party, considered xenophobic by many, at 14.2%. Berlin's SPD
Mayor Michael Müller had dramatically warned before the election that
a strong AfD result would be "seen throughout the world as a sign of
the resurgence of the right and of Nazis in Germany."
Merkel's loss is attributed to a voter reaction against her famous
phrase "Wir schaffen es" (we can do it), referring to a policy of
allow hundreds of thousands of refugees to enter Germany in 2015.
Merkel expressed regret over the election loss, and to a poll
indicating that 82% of Germans are unhappy with the refugee policy:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"If I could I would play back time so I and the German
> federal government and leaders could have been better prepared,"
> she said.
>
> "We have not done everything right in the last few years. We are
> not world champions in integration. ...
>
> If those 82% means that people do not accept foreigners,
> particularly people with Islamic background, this is against our
> constitutional rights, against our Christian democratic... and
> personal convictions. I and the CDU cannot represent this
> course."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, it's not completely clear that the loss was entirely due to
migrant issues. The election was also dominated by local issues,
including poor public services, crumbling school buildings, late
trains and a housing shortage.
Some reports indicate that Merkel's refugee policy will continue in
any event. While the Social Democrats won the largest share of the
vote, 21.6%, they will have to enter a coalition with two other left
wing parties, Die Linke (15.6%) and the Greens (15.2%) to govern. A
left-wing coalition, if formed, would probably continue to be
favorable to refugees. AFP and CNN
and McClatchy
Related Articles
****
**** Summit in Bratislava shows an EU in disarray
****
There was a European Union Summit meeting over the weekend in
Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, but only 27 of the 28 EU
members were represented. The representative from the UK was not
invited because on June 23, the UK passed the Brexit referendum,
calling for the UK to leave the EU. So even though the UK is still a
full-fledged member of the European Union, the new UK prime minister
Theresa May was not invited.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has won repeated elections in
Germany, the strongest economy in Europe, and so Merkel has been
setting much of the agenda for Europe for almost ten years.
Although there is no one in Europe with the charisma necessary to
replace Merkel as a leader, Merkel has certainly been weakened by the
migrant crisis and her election defeats. Between that and Britain's
Brexit vote, which called for Britain to leave the European Union,
Europe itself is in disarray.
Indeed, the Brexit scenario is itself in disarray. Britain's new
prime minister Theresa May has said that they won't even invoke
"Article 50" until next year. Invoking Article 50 begins the two-year
negotiation process for Britain's exit from the EU, and so no
negotiations have begun to take place, leaving many businesses and
people unable to make plans.
There are two major issues to be resolved by the Brexit negotiations.
One issue is whether Britain will remain as part of the European
Common Market, which is considered necessary by some people for
Britain's trade requirements. The other issue is whether Britain will
allow the free flow of people between Britain and the EU nations.
Many Britons would like to remain in the Common Market even if there
is no free flow of people, but many European leaders have already
rejected that option, saying that you can't have freedom of trade
unless you also have freedom to travel.
Even without the UK present, the EU summit was considered failure.
Many people had hoped that the Summit would find a way to resolve the
disputes, and particularly to reach a compromise with Hungary's prime
minister Viktor Orbán which would allow Hungary to accept some
migrants.
None of this was accomplished. Italy's prime minister Matteo Renzi
said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"I don't know what Merkel is referring to when she
> talks about the 'spirit of Bratislava'. If things go on like
> this, instead of the spirit of Bratislava we'll be talking about
> the ghost of Europe."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Reuters and Gulf News
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Germany, Angela Merkel,
Christian Democrat Union, CDU, Social Democratic Party, SDP,
Alternative für Deutschland, AfD, Berlin, Michael Müller,
Bratislava, Slovakia, Britain, Theresa May,
Hungary, Viktor Orbán, Italy, Matteo Renzi
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Germany's Angela Merkel expresses regret after election loss in Berlin
- Summit in Bratislava shows an EU in disarray
****
**** Germany's Angela Merkel expresses regret after election loss in Berlin
****
Food at the AfD election party in Berlin (DPA)
Germany's center-right Christian Democrat Union (CDU), led by
Chancellor Angela Merkel, suffered a historic defeat in a regional
election in Berlin on Sunday, falling off 6% since the last election,
getting only 17.6% of the vote, behind the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) at 21.6%. Most significant were the gains by the right-wing
anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland (AfD - Alternative for
Germany) party, considered xenophobic by many, at 14.2%. Berlin's SPD
Mayor Michael Müller had dramatically warned before the election that
a strong AfD result would be "seen throughout the world as a sign of
the resurgence of the right and of Nazis in Germany."
Merkel's loss is attributed to a voter reaction against her famous
phrase "Wir schaffen es" (we can do it), referring to a policy of
allow hundreds of thousands of refugees to enter Germany in 2015.
Merkel expressed regret over the election loss, and to a poll
indicating that 82% of Germans are unhappy with the refugee policy:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"If I could I would play back time so I and the German
> federal government and leaders could have been better prepared,"
> she said.
>
> "We have not done everything right in the last few years. We are
> not world champions in integration. ...
>
> If those 82% means that people do not accept foreigners,
> particularly people with Islamic background, this is against our
> constitutional rights, against our Christian democratic... and
> personal convictions. I and the CDU cannot represent this
> course."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, it's not completely clear that the loss was entirely due to
migrant issues. The election was also dominated by local issues,
including poor public services, crumbling school buildings, late
trains and a housing shortage.
Some reports indicate that Merkel's refugee policy will continue in
any event. While the Social Democrats won the largest share of the
vote, 21.6%, they will have to enter a coalition with two other left
wing parties, Die Linke (15.6%) and the Greens (15.2%) to govern. A
left-wing coalition, if formed, would probably continue to be
favorable to refugees. AFP and CNN
and McClatchy
Related Articles
****
**** Summit in Bratislava shows an EU in disarray
****
There was a European Union Summit meeting over the weekend in
Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, but only 27 of the 28 EU
members were represented. The representative from the UK was not
invited because on June 23, the UK passed the Brexit referendum,
calling for the UK to leave the EU. So even though the UK is still a
full-fledged member of the European Union, the new UK prime minister
Theresa May was not invited.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has won repeated elections in
Germany, the strongest economy in Europe, and so Merkel has been
setting much of the agenda for Europe for almost ten years.
Although there is no one in Europe with the charisma necessary to
replace Merkel as a leader, Merkel has certainly been weakened by the
migrant crisis and her election defeats. Between that and Britain's
Brexit vote, which called for Britain to leave the European Union,
Europe itself is in disarray.
Indeed, the Brexit scenario is itself in disarray. Britain's new
prime minister Theresa May has said that they won't even invoke
"Article 50" until next year. Invoking Article 50 begins the two-year
negotiation process for Britain's exit from the EU, and so no
negotiations have begun to take place, leaving many businesses and
people unable to make plans.
There are two major issues to be resolved by the Brexit negotiations.
One issue is whether Britain will remain as part of the European
Common Market, which is considered necessary by some people for
Britain's trade requirements. The other issue is whether Britain will
allow the free flow of people between Britain and the EU nations.
Many Britons would like to remain in the Common Market even if there
is no free flow of people, but many European leaders have already
rejected that option, saying that you can't have freedom of trade
unless you also have freedom to travel.
Even without the UK present, the EU summit was considered failure.
Many people had hoped that the Summit would find a way to resolve the
disputes, and particularly to reach a compromise with Hungary's prime
minister Viktor Orbán which would allow Hungary to accept some
migrants.
None of this was accomplished. Italy's prime minister Matteo Renzi
said:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"I don't know what Merkel is referring to when she
> talks about the 'spirit of Bratislava'. If things go on like
> this, instead of the spirit of Bratislava we'll be talking about
> the ghost of Europe."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
Reuters and Gulf News
Related Articles
- Monday's EU summit to show that Europe 'not detached from reality' over migrants (14-Sep-2016)
- Hungary may build a second 'massive' fence to block migrants from Serbia (28-Aug-2016)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Germany, Angela Merkel,
Christian Democrat Union, CDU, Social Democratic Party, SDP,
Alternative für Deutschland, AfD, Berlin, Michael Müller,
Bratislava, Slovakia, Britain, Theresa May,
Hungary, Viktor Orbán, Italy, Matteo Renzi
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
