Any thoughts that Angela Merkel possessed the leadership qualities that would propel her into a clear majority in the upcoming elections were dashed yesterday when she unveiled her party’s Election Manifesto. Immediately she was put on the defensive since the most visible feature of the manifesto is an increase of the VAT to 18%. The most vocal criticism came from her presumed coalition partner – the liberal Free Democrats (FDP):
The Free Democratic party, the CDU’s likeliest coalition partner, categorically rejected Ms Merkel’s plan to raise value-added tax from 16 to 18 per cent.
The VAT increase, to fund a cut in the social security contributions that make German workers some of the most expensive in the world, is the central plank in the CDU’s 38-page electoral manifesto unveiled yesterday.
"Let us be crystal clear," said Dirk Niebel, a senior FDP member of parliament, "a VAT increase without an overarching structural reform of the tax system would be a very poor start for a new government."
Why the CDU would raise a consumption tax during a period of protracted depressed domestic demand is puzzling, to say the least. The SPD is of course jubilant about the reception of Merkel’s manifesto and has launched a new attack Web site.
Merkel is in the unusual position of leading an opposition party which has already been declared the unofficial winner in the upcoming election. The CDU thus runs the risk of being perceived by the voters as the arrogant "Sieger" – victors; this perception was validated by Merkel’s calling her Election Manifesto the Regierungsprogramm 2005-2009 (Governance Program 2005-2000), as if a CDU/CSU controlled government were already a foregone conclusion. Merkel is not an inspiring leader – much less a charismatic campaigner. There is a real danger that support for the CDU could diminish between now and September to the extent that a Black/Gold coalition is no longer feasible. With both the FDP and Greens at new lows in terms of voter support, and the surging new Linkspartei (Left Party) peeling away voters from the SPD, a Grand Coaltion of Red/Black looks increasingly like a real possiblity. More on a Grand Coalition in today’s taz.
0 comment
Hat denn keiner Lust, Kanzler zu werden?
Es hat beinahe den Anschein, als ob die für Freitag erwartete Entscheidung von Bundespräsident Horst Köhler, ob es denn nun Neuwahlen geben möge oder nicht, gegenstandslos sei. Denn so wie sich das Establishement benimmt, verspü…
“Ready darling, I think I like this. Love my bum with your cock, and please go slowly.”
She felt instantly powerless – there was nothing she could do to prevent him from doing what he wanted to her, and the best she could do was resign herself and submit to the already mounting feelings. “Oh, I am a slut. I can’t believe I have let this ugly man make me horny. I’m letting him get his hands all over my private, secret parts, just because he wants to.”
I unzip and pull my pants and boxer briefs part way down. Boing, out comes my almost hard cock.
“Why, what do you mean? Don’t tell me he brought his wife?”
We walked toward the main exit, with her holding with both hands to my arm. “Can you wait a minute, please?” she asked me. “I just need to use the rest room.”