Friday, July 17, 2015

Spiegel on Tsipras, Schäuble

Spiegel Online
He'll have to implement tougher savings measures than any of his predecessors, despite his fight to end them. But Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras could still come out of the euro crisis as the victor, leading his country for years to come.…
Translation: "Savings measures" means replacing the welfare state with market state.
At the moment it appears that Tsipras the pragmatist has knocked out Tsipras the ideologue. "He's finally putting his country before his party," one opposition politician said on Wednesday, expressing relief.
Translation: Tsipras sold out.

Victory in Defeat?: Alexis Tsipras Has Shown Greeks He Can Save Them
Schäuble: There is no German dominance. Germany is in a good position economically, that is undeniable. But in contrast to France and Great Britain, Germany is not a member of the United Nations Security Council. For that reason alone, you cannot talk about being in a position of political supremacy. Still, the balance in Europe has shifted since the fall of the Iron Curtain. Baltic countries, Slovakia and Slovenia also now speak up when they don't like the positions taken by others.…
It's about balance. At home, we were three brothers, and when we fought, my father always said that the stronger one should back down. And that's how it was in the Greece negotiations. The one in the better position must try to help the weaker one. I tried to do that.…
I wonder what it would have been like if he had been tough on them.
Schäuble: We are currently seeing that a currency union without political union cannot function without complications. So we have to move further toward establishing a political union, for example by strengthening the European Commission and the European Parliament. But that means that member states must give up even more sovereignty. They have already taken this step when it comes to monetary policy, but are they also prepared to transfer financial policy competencies, for example, to the European level? Many have a problem with that.
SPIEGEL: French President François Hollande has proposed installing a euro-zone finance minister and placing him or her under the supervision of a euro-zone parliamentary body.

Schäuble: I am also in favor of a euro-zone finance minister, but to install one, the European treaties must be amended first. I was pleased to hear from President Hollande that France is now prepared to do so.
SPIEGEL: Are you pleased that suddenly everyone in Europe is in favor of increased integration?
Schäuble: Of course, but I am also aware that the experiences of recent years have not made it easier to advocate for more Europe. Still, I'm not giving up. I am a realist, which is why I am unable to assert that we can only save the euro if we amend the treaties. We may have to do without. What is essential is that rules are followed and enforced. But when we do that, then we are accused of establishing a protectorate or abolishing democracy. That is all nonsense….
SPIEGEL Interview with Wolfgang Schäuble: 'There Is No German Dominance'
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble had a plan to push Greece out of the euro zone. Chancellor Merkel wasn't sure what to do about it. The result is widespread resentment of Germany and a damaged Franco-German relationship.
A Government Divided: Schäuble's Push for Grexit Puts Merkel on Defensive

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