Has Merkel avoided her Waterloo?

[church mouse guy]

The press is reporting today that Merkel is in coalition talks with the German SPD party to try and form a government after her party's loss in the recent German elections. Apparently, German voters rejected Merkel to some degree for her open borders stance that has not only cost Germans a lot of money for welfare but also has touched off a crime wave in Germany so large that the police are unable to respond effectively.

Merkel seemed headed for her personal Waterloo (or Stalingrad) as new elections seemed unlikely to improve her party's standing. Previous talks with other parties failed to form a coalition government, as you know. However, it looks as if Germans prefer some compromise to new elections or continued leaderless stalemate.

Trump remarked in Florida last week that he had to dun her for the German share of the dues to NATO, which she has refused to pay. The Germans are a hot mess and they seem to want dirt-cheap labor from Syrians and someone else to fight their fights for them. Why is it that rich people are often so cheap?

 

[liafailrock]

Well, despite the mess, expect a strong leader to come to Germany one day. People are crying for one now, and it will lead the EU in the future. Indeed, already Germany rising up.

 

[rsr]

Merkel is in trouble if she has to go into a coalition with the Social Democrats. There are huge differences on many items, including the commitment to increase defense spending. It's a desperation move and one, IMO, can't survive very long.

Trump remarked in Florida last week that he had to dun her for the German share of the dues to NATO, which she has refused to pay.

I don't know what dues are in view. NATO members don't pay "dues." They're committed to spending 2 percent GDP on defense, but they don't pay dues. Germany has not met the target level, but it's not alone. Only five other NATO countries have, and they're Baltic and Eastern European nations who are scared of Putin (with good reason).