Merkel's rival insists he can win German election, attacks Trump

[webfact]

Merkel's rival insists he can win German election, attacks Trump

By Gernot Heller

 

Germany's Social Democratic Party candidate for chancellor Martin Schulz at the end of a news conference at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy, July 27, 2017. REUTERS/Max Rossi

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's main challenger, Martin Schulz, labelled U.S. President Donald Trump "irresponsible" on Sunday and insisted he could still win Germany's Sept. 24 election despite languishing in polls.

 

Schulz, leader of the left-leaning Social Democratic Party (SPD), said he would not take issue with Merkel's approach to handling the dispute between the United States and North Korea as Germany should stand united.

 

But he could not resist a dig at Trump, whom he described to the broadcaster ZDF as "this irresponsible man in the White House".

"What worries me is that an American president ... is sinking to the level of a North Korean dictator," Schulz added in a separate interview with the RTL channel.

 

On Friday, Merkel said there was no military solution to the North Korea issue, adding that "an escalation of the rhetoric is the wrong answer".

 

Six weeks out from the election, an Emnid opinion poll for Sunday's Bild am Sonntag newspaper put support for Schulz's SPD at 24 percent, far behind Merkel's conservative bloc, on 38 percent.

 

The two parties now rule in a "grand coalition", led by Merkel's conservatives. Despite the conservatives' big lead in surveys, a fractured political landscape could make it hard to form other viable coalitions.

 

Schulz insisted he could still win the election, telling ZDF: "I reckon I've got a good chance." Asked about the possibility of another grand coalition, he replied: "I have nothing against a grand coalition under my leadership."

 

The Emnid poll put support for the far-left Left party at 10 percent, with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) both on 8 percent, and the environmentalist Greens on 7.

 

CAR MAKERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

 

A day after Merkel rounded on Germany's auto executives for squandering trust in the sector, Schulz accused them of putting the industry at risk by failing to plan for the future.

 

The fate of the auto sector, Germany's biggest exporter and provider of some 800,000 jobs, has become a hot election issue as politicians accuse executives and each other of failing to find an adequate response to a scandal over emissions.

 

The scandal blew up almost two years ago when Volkswagen admitted to cheating U.S. emissions tests, throwing the spotlight on a major source of pollution and increasing the pressure for a decisive switch to alternative fuels.

 

"The problem is, we are living through a situation in Germany in which managers worth millions at VW, at Daimler, have fallen asleep and forgotten the future," Schulz told ZDF.

 

VW, along with fellow German car makers BMW, Daimler, Audi and Porsche, are also being investigated by European regulators for alleged anti-competitive collusion.

 

Trade unionists at VW have urged politicians not to exploit its problems for political gain.

 

Car bosses agreed this month to overhaul engine software on 5.3 million diesel cars to cut pollution.

 

Former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, himself a former member of VW's supervisory board, accused Merkel of neglecting her duties by going on holiday rather than chairing the emissions talks with industry bosses.

 

"I don't want to spoil anyone's holiday. But here I would have taken charge personally. It is all far too important," Schroeder, a Social Democrat whom Merkel defeated in 2005, told the Swiss tabloid newspaper Blick.

 

(Additional reporting by Francois Murphy; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Alison Williams)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-14

[Ace of Pop]

A nasty little object .Germany doesn't deserve these types.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Merkel's rival insists he can win German election

Not if she gives all her new 'friends' recently arrived the vote !

[lovelomsak]

22 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Not if she gives all her new 'friends' recently arrived the vote !

Exactly They should boot her ass out for letting in as many refugees as she did. with out vetting.

[ilostmypassword]

15 minutes ago, lovelomsak said:

Exactly They should boot her ass out for letting in as many refugees as she did. with out vetting.

A pity that the vast majority of Germans don't agree with you.

[maximillian]

Merkel or Schulz ?  What a choice.    Where is the difference ?

They just as well could form an even greater lobby and US controlled coalition of CDU/CSU/SPD/FDP/Greens without the farce of an election.

LINKE and AfD in the opposition... Two parties as they couldn't be more different.  Bye-bye democracy in Germany, you US vassal state are heading the same insane direction like your much admired mentor. Want to join them in any of their regime changes and dirty wars.  I'm sick of all of them including our neoliberal, flew licking fake news mainstream media.  Despite of all your importance, achievements and being "world export champion" you are going to be a failed state for too many of your citizens.

[Grouse]

8 minutes ago, maximillian said:

Merkel or Schulz ?  What a choice.    Where is the difference ?

They just as well could form an even greater lobby and US controlled coalition

of CDU/CSU/SPD/FDP/Greens without the farce of an election.

LINKE and AfD in the opposition... Two parties as they couldn't be more different.

Bye-bye democracy in Germany, you US vassal state are heading the same insane direction like your

much admired mentor. Want to join them in any of their regime changes and dirty wars.

I'm sick of all of them including our neoliberal, flew licking fake news mainstream media.

Despite of all your importance, achievements and being "world export champion" you are going to be a failed state for too many of your citizens.

Good morning Max! Coffee?

[Scott]

Troll post and replies removed.  

[ilostmypassword]

43 minutes ago, maximillian said:

Merkel or Schulz ?  What a choice.    Where is the difference ?

They just as well could form an even greater lobby and US controlled coalition

of CDU/CSU/SPD/FDP/Greens without the farce of an election.

LINKE and AfD in the opposition... Two parties as they couldn't be more different.

Bye-bye democracy in Germany, you US vassal state are heading the same insane direction like your

much admired mentor. Want to join them in any of their regime changes and dirty wars.

I'm sick of all of them including our neoliberal, flew licking fake news mainstream media.

Despite of all your importance, achievements and being "world export champion" you are going to be a failed state for too many of your citizens.

 

33 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Good morning Max! Coffee?

Medication? Do you have any idea what he's basing his rant on?

[FreddieRoyle]

3 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

A pity that the vast majority of Germans don't agree with you.

Nobody has any real idea what the Germans are thinking. It is criminal to express doubts as to the migrant policy. And legally refugees are "more German" than German citizens that do not agree with Merkels policies. Get your head around that if you can.

 

 

[ilostmypassword]

17 minutes ago, FreddieRoyle said:

Nobody has any real idea what the Germans are thinking. It is criminal to express doubts as to the migrant policy. And legally refugees are "more German" than German citizens that do not agree with Merkels policies. Get your head around that if you can.

 

 

I'm still trying to get my head around your lie that " It is criminal to express doubts as to the migrant policy." So your contention is that the minister was referring to people who are peacefully airing their opinions?

[goldenbrwn1]

5 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

A pity that the vast majority of Germans don't agree with you.

Yeh right..?

 

1 hour ago, FreddieRoyle said:

It is criminal to express doubts as to the migrant policy. And legally refugees are "more German" than German citizens that do not agree with Merkels policies.

And there's more ?...from one end of nonsense to the other..

Edited August 14, 2017 by goldenbrwn1

[dunroaming]

Maybe he feels having a dig at Trump will gain him some favour with the German public. In reality everyone with a voice condemns Trump every opportunity they get so it has become the norm.  Merkel will win the election in Germany.

[ilostmypassword]

7 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

A pity that the vast majority of Germans don't agree with you.

 

2 hours ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Yeh right..?

 

And there's more ?...from one end of nonsense to the other..

Well then, according to you Merkel or Schulz don't stand a chance of leading the next government. Have you engaged with reality lately?

[goldenbrwn1]

22 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

 

Well then, according to you Merkel or Schulz don't stand a chance of leading the next government. Have you engaged with reality lately?

Merkel will win. I just don't agree with your statement or Freddieroyle nonsense comment about criticism on Merkals immigration policy is a crime.   I really dont think immigration is the game changer in German politics as yet as it has been  in the UK.  But I'm sure it's on the mind of many German citizens.

Edited August 14, 2017 by goldenbrwn1

[ilostmypassword]

4 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Merkel will win. I just don't agree with your statement or Freddieroyle nonsense comment about criticism on Merkals immigration policy is a crime.  

Well, then, you think that a majority of Germans believe they "should boot her ass out for letting in as many refugees as she did. with out vetting."

[goldenbrwn1]

10 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Well, then, you think that a majority of Germans believe they "should boot her ass out for letting in as many refugees as she did. with out vetting."

I think they should yes. But I'm not German so won't be adding my vote. All I'm saying is that I think she realised soon after that she had made a mistake and even her rhetoric has hardened slightly towards this open door policy of 'come to Germany you're welcome without passport or checks' and if this would have continued then her chances of losing this election would have greatly increased.

 

Im all for immigration but what she did was absolutely crazy and not thought out at all. And was a huge gift to the brexit campaign.

Edited August 14, 2017 by goldenbrwn1

[Grouse]

15 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

  I really dont think immigration is the game changer in German politics as yet as it has been  in the UK.

Oh no it wasn't!......

[Grouse]

Some facts

 

http://www.indexmundi.com/germany/net_migration_rate.html

 

I KNOW facts are not appreciated. Sorry!

[goldenbrwn1]

11 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Some facts

 

http://www.indexmundi.com/germany/net_migration_rate.html

 

I KNOW facts are not appreciated. Sorry!

It's not just about numbers come on.  People came from all over in their hundreds of thousands all trying to get to Germany and marauding their way through Europe without any kind of vetting.  Oh and maybe try 2015 instead.  

 

Surely you don't think it's ok to just let thousands upon thousands of people enter your country without passports or checks?? That just common sense yeh? ?

Edited August 14, 2017 by goldenbrwn1

[Grouse]

4 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

It's not just about numbers come on.  People came from all over in their hundreds of thousands all trying to get to Germany and marauding their way through Europe without any kind of vetting.  Oh and maybe try 2015 instead.  

 

Surely you don't think it's ok to just let thousands upon thousands of people enter your country without passports or checks?? That just common sense yeh? ?

Well, let's have a reasoned discussion about this. 

 

As you know, I have no time for Muslims generally. But, refugees are something different. I think Germany could have processed people quicker but they are getting through them. They even changed the law to allow deportation to safe zones. 

 

The data I posted was recently updated. Looks to be about 1.5 per thousand.

 

I think current NET migration numbers will be interesting.

 

I do think Angela should have used more judicious wording but her heart is in the right place and she certainly holds the moral high ground.

 

The UK is left looking cheap, mean and small. The worst of all worlds.

[roobaa01]

the choice in germany is between pest and cholera cause both political clown schulz and junta merkel aim to destroy the german social equilibrium by flooding the country with illitrate social freeloaders.

 

wbr

roobaa01

[ilostmypassword]

1 minute ago, roobaa01 said:

the choice in germany is between pest and cholera cause both political clown schulz and junta merkel aim to destroy the german social equilibrium by flooding the country with illitrate social freeloaders.

 

wbr

roobaa01

Which apparently the majority of the german populace is ok with.

[goldenbrwn1]

15 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Well, let's have a reasoned discussion about this. 

 

As you know, I have no time for Muslims generally. But, refugees are something different. I think Germany could have processed people quicker but they are getting through them. They even changed the law to allow deportation to safe zones. 

 

The data I posted was recently updated. Looks to be about 1.5 per thousand.

 

I think current NET migration numbers will be interesting.

 

I do think Angela should have used more judicious wording but her heart is in the right place and she certainly holds the moral high ground.

 

The UK is left looking cheap, mean and small. The worst of all worlds.

Yes I agree Germany has now got their act together on immigration after the debacle of Merkals position on it in 2015.  The sad knock on effect has been brexit..she gave one whole ammo dump to the leave campaign.  

 

Im no expert on Germany but I could imagine in German political circles the heart is still heavy over WW11. And therefore I do understand where taking the higher moral ground is coming from.

 

I think your wrong on the UK looking cheap though ect.

 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/08/foreign-aid-these-countries-are-the-most-generous/

 

https://fullfact.org/economy/uk-spending-foreign-aid/

[maximillian]

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

Maybe he feels having a dig at Trump will gain him some favour with the German public. In reality everyone with a voice condemns Trump every opportunity they get so it has become the norm.  Merkel will win the election in Germany.

Sure Merkel will win because the average Germans have a very short memory. Schulz is no alternative to her. Nothing would change if he'd win.

Since six month you can read and hear on a daily basis shallow-brained messages about Trump and his staff, advisers and such. BTW, he will change his hairstyle and color, fire his hairdresser.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not his friend but I can't stand that permanent Trump bashing any more.

What would the US, the world look like with Hillary as POTUS ?  Yeah, Merkel would be happier,

Schulz as well and our mainstream media too.

According to our media Germans must be better informed about the Trump circles than about their own

politicians and their intentions.

But wait, the Russians might interfere in the German elections and Sahra Wagenknecht will be our next chancellor.

[maximillian]

13 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

the choice in germany is between pest and cholera cause both political clown schulz and junta merkel aim to destroy the german social equilibrium by flooding the country with illitrate social freeloaders.

 

wbr

roobaa01

Fully agree with the first 9 words of your statement. The rest is nonsense.

To better understand the ongoing wars and the mass exodus of refugees from war torn countries into western countries and the intentions behind it all, you should read:

Read The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives of Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Divide and rule...

[Srikcir]

10 hours ago, lovelomsak said:

Exactly They should boot her ass out for letting in as many refugees as she did. with out vetting.

The polls show Schulz’s SPD trailing Merkel’s CDU/CSU alliance by about 14%. An opinion poll by Forsa in June 2017 showed that 57% of those aged 18 to 21 would support Merkel as chancellor, compared with 53% of all voters. By contrast, Schulz’s backing from the same age group was only 21%.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/12/germany-election-angela-merkel-martin-schulz

Merkel isn't being hurt by her refugee policies.

[thaihome]

1 hour ago, maximillian said:

Sure Merkel will win because the average Germans have a very short memory. ....

Actually I think the Germans have very good memory that runs across multiple generations and manifests itself as an instinctive, rational aversion to demogugary.

TH  

[Grouse]

1 hour ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Yes I agree Germany has now got their act together on immigration after the debacle of Merkals position on it in 2015.  The sad knock on effect has been brexit..she gave one whole ammo dump to the leave campaign.  

 

Im no expert on Germany but I could imagine in German political circles the heart is still heavy over WW11. And therefore I do understand where taking the higher moral ground is coming from.

 

I think your wrong on the UK looking cheap though ect.

 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/08/foreign-aid-these-countries-are-the-most-generous/

 

https://fullfact.org/economy/uk-spending-foreign-aid/

We certainly do well with foreign aid and that does bring real benefits. We do tend to hide our good deeds and broadcast our failings sadly.

[dunroaming]

2 hours ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

Im all for immigration but what she did was absolutely crazy and not thought out at all. And was a huge gift to the brexit campaign.

Yes you are right but I think when Merkel made her stand to let all the immigrants in she didn't realise the just how many there would be.  Bad mistake on her part but we are all clever with hindsight.  It certainly helped swing the Brexit vote helped along with the lies from Farage.