French and Greek elections 'have overthrown Angela Merkel as dominant force'

Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 3:53PM BST 07 May 2012 | Our Foreign Staff

[Olog-hai]

French and Greek elections have overthrown Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, as the dominant force in European politics, newspapers in Germany have concluded.

"The hour of the extremists," warned Handelsblatt, Germany's financial newspaper, predicting that the defeat of pro-EU austerity parties in Greek elections will bring "an unparalleled political upheaval". … In an editorial, the newspaper warned that Greece could bring "political chaos" to Europe. …

Writing about their French neighbors, Süddeutsche Zeitung says: "Goodbye election campaign—bonjour reality." …

Die Welt sees the French and Greek vote as interlinked, spelling "the rejection of Merkel's system in Europe". In an editorial, the newspaper notes that both elections are a revolt against an EU and eurozone order dominated by the German chancellor. …

In France, Le Figaro defends the record of Nicolas Sarkozy, saying: "History will judge his term in office and will remark that having taken on the worst economic and financial crisis of the past 50 years, he nevertheless enacted essential reforms regarding university, research, pensions, public deficit reduction … He also proudly maintained France's place on the international stage and played a decisive role in saving Europe and the euro." …

[EEGator]

The French and the Greeks are going to get money from whom?

[GeronL]

Yet they have not overthrown math, basic economics and reality.

[omega4179]

The “Bankers”

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Let me guess.

The French and Greek socialists will now want to redistribute Germany's stuff.

I'm right, aren't I?

[a fool in paradise]

In France, Le Figaro defends the record of Nicolas Sarkozy, saying: "History will judge his term in office and will remark that having taken on the worst economic and financial crisis of the past 50 years

Barack says that's Bush's fault. Why didn't Le Fig mention that part?

[Longbow1969]

The French and the Greeks are going to get money from whom?

Greece, France and other Europeans can still play on Germany's WW2 guilt for awhile longer.

[tobyhill]

What’s their economies going to be based on, olives and perfume?

[mylife]

"Why Worry"? Obama will be happy to put our children on the hook for Europe.

[lacrew]

I have a theory on the reason we haven’t seen WW3 yet.

Almost immediately after WW2, most of Europe turned to pseudo socialism, with universal healthcare, free college, reduced work weeks, etc.

Now, a half century later, there is nothing left to fight for - no wealth, no significant production, practically no resources since their laws won’t permit exploiting them. Sure, their petty jealousy and misplaced nationalistic pride still boils beneath the surface...but there is no use trying to rob each other’s wealth, since they have universally gone into poverty together.

They are more or less domestic pigs, waiting for somebody to throw them some slop every day...completely dependent on a faceless benefactor for survival.

Sadly, we have not taken a diferent path...we just got a late start.

[Iron Munro]

Wishful thinking.

Germany always rises to the top.

[john drake]

You’re probably right. But after 3, going on 4 generations, since the rise of Nazism, you’d think the younger Germans these days would say “enough” to the rest of parasitical Europe and tell them to Ef off. I hope the German Army is at least half the men it used to be; they’d scare the $hit out of the rest of Europe by flexing a little muscle and goose stepping around a bit. Just sayin’.

[guitarplayer1953]

"The French and the Greeks are going to get money from whom?"

As far as the Greeks go they have been tiring to collect money back from Germany that they loaned them 60 years ago. The Germans response is that was so long ago yet Greece is still paying off loans from 40 years ago.

[JayVee]

I think the germans still remember how to get to Paris!

[Rome2000]

Looks like the only logical solution is for the EU and the USSA to loot the Chi-coms.

[Longbow1969]

you’d think the younger Germans these days would say “enough” to the rest of parasitical Europe and tell them to Ef off.

Yes, but they are desperate to keep their social welfare system in place. They like it. It can't last, but most Europeans (including Germans) live for today. They aren't religious and they don't much care about the future. America is moving down a similar path, we are just a few years behind them. Germans may complain about bailing out countries like Greece, but it isn't as if they are voting for anti-bailout party's. They show disapproval for Merkel by voting for SPD - which is a party even more wedded to the euro-zone and European integration.

It isn't that I don't think the Eurozone is doomed, it's just that I don't think regular logic applies. I think they will kick the can down the road till they've used up every last trick, lie, cover-up, bailout, debt swap, etc. When the end comes, it is going to be a complete and utter crash - possibly resulting in conflict of some kind. The problem will be, everyone will fully understand that the whole system was a house of cards covered up by the lies of government, banks, big trading houses, the media, etc. There will simply be no confidence in almost any part of the system.

[colorado tanker]

The French and Greek socialists will now want to redistribute Germany's stuff.

Yes, but the Germans can just say, sorry, the wallet is closed. Greece could bail out of the Euro and try printing money like they used too. But France can't leave the Euro zone. They will probably just undo what reforms Sark managed and try to do to the French economy what Obama is doing to ours.

[EEGator]

Cowardice and anarchy.

[EEGator]

I don’t know, I think that ship has sailed.

[Nowhere Man]

I have a theory on the reason we haven’t seen WW3 yet. Almost immediately after WW2, most of Europe turned to pseudo socialism, with universal healthcare, free college, reduced work weeks, etc.

Now, a half century later, there is nothing left to fight for - no wealth, no significant production, practically no resources since their laws won’t permit exploiting them. Sure, their petty jealousy and misplaced nationalistic pride still boils beneath the surface...but there is no use trying to rob each other’s wealth, since they have universally gone into poverty together.

They are more or less domestic pigs, waiting for somebody to throw them some slop every day...completely dependent on a faceless benefactor for survival.

Sadly, we have not taken a diferent path...we just got a late start.

Interesting theory. All their money went to welfare programs while DURING the Cold War, we and to a lesser extent, the UK were the backbone for their defense against the USSR. Germany is nothing to sneeze at but it took time to build them up but even so, if there was no U.S., NATO would have a much tougher time if the USSR flooded the Fulda Gap.

I still do believe there is a spark of fight and nationalism in many Europeans but it will take something like the muzzies getting out of hand but the question will be, will it be too late?