Cracks Beginning To Show For Merkel?

[Zacs-Master]

Berlin state poll: Losses for Merkel's CDU, gains for AfD
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37403542

[naomi24]

Hardly surprising.

[Zacs-Master]

No, but this is probably the most convincing hard evidence to date.

[AB Editor]

Europe will look a lot more interesting when the last strong leader has to step down. She outlasted many of the others.

[Zacs-Master]

Woah Ed, she's not gone yet. British politics has proved that there's many a slip between cup and lip.

[naomi24]

The politics of Europe are changing rapidly.

[AB Editor]

As Naomi says, there is a seachange - the people desire weak leaders because, in general, the people no longer trust any institution.

In my opinion, obvs.

[naomi24]

//the people desire weak leaders //

On the contrary. People desire strong leaders – but leaders who are determined to protect their countries’ national interests rather than impose, against the wishes of the electorate, a culture of potty political correctness that serves only to create discontent and disharmony. Mrs Merkel’s policy on immigration is a disaster for Germany – and clearly the German people are beginning to realise that.

[Khandro]

If anyone thinks she is a strong leader she isn't, in fact she is quite the opposite, she is noted for prevarication and fence-sitting and trying to apease everyone (including the odious Erdogan). The few occasions she has acted decisively have been disasters, the last one being her open door policy.

The problem is finding someone who can replace her compliancy, and the German constitution does not favour the emergence of strong leaders (they've had that!). It was set up by the allies after WW2 in such a manner that it would be impossible for a repetition of the 1930's, and so Germany is stuck with endless weak coalition governments and their constant in-fighting.
Proponents of proportional representation should take note.

[Zacs-Master]

Sorry Ed but I have to agree with Naomi here. Merkel is on the verge of being ousted because she is everything that the German people don't want at this time. The emergence of the far right is still very worrying. A possible frying pan / fire scenario.

[ToraToraTora]

I think it was the "hug and economic migrant" policy that went up the pictures for her.

[AB Editor]

Hi naomi24,

I meant that when you have a weaker leader, then the government as a whole works more in tune with the "will of the people" (or some similar notion).

This is why the Tory/Lib coalition might be one of the more popular governments of recent years. Not that many will admit it in much more than a whisper.

[ChillDoubt]

When I posted about her significant losses to AfD only weeks ago it was brushed off by the foil hat brigade as nothing to write home about.

Looks pretty cataclysmic this time, or is that only because it's in Berlin I wonder?

As I said then: Germany wakes up....as with the Brexit, politicians are not listening to the ordinary man on the street. They'd better start....

[AB Editor]

They seem to have used up all the good will of the late nineties and early 00's, that's for sure.

[Zacs-Master]

'I meant that when you have a weaker leader, then the government as a whole works more in tune with the "will of the people" (or some similar notion).'

By that logic.....Bring on Jezza!

[naomi24]

//The emergence of the far right is still very worrying. A possible frying pan / fire scenario.

Indeed ... but what's the alternative?

[youngmafbog]

The alternative is that Merkel and the other EUrocrats wake up and listen to what the population of the EU want.
they wont of course because they are arrogant.

[Khandro]

Only opponents of AfD refer to it as "far right", it is of course, to the right, but not extremely so, it's manifesto is centered on European fiscal policies which it sees as misguided, it isn't founded on immigration as many seem to think.
It gets referred to as "populist" and to the right of the Merkel's CDU, even an upstart. It believes the euro is a failed experiment (as does Soros) and has brought untold misery on the smaller members, particularly Greece.

http://www.alternativefuer.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2015/03/AfD-Manifesto-en.pdf

[naomi24]

Anything that opposes what are termed ‘liberal’ views is labelled ‘far right', in the same way that genuine concerns about the detrimental effects of uncontrolled immigration is labelled 'racist'. Simply a ploy to silence the opposition.

[Zacs-Master]

The alternative is a mainstream party which is tough on immigration without the danger of repeating the late 1930s. I for one don't consider anything not liberal as being far right.

[naomi24]

//without the danger of repeating the late 1930s.//

If you mean deporting people back to their own countries, being realistic I think that could happen. If, however, you'd said 'Without repeating the late 1930s and the first half of the 1940s', I don't believe that will ever happen.