GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel starts her re-election campaign, presenting herself to voters as a safe pair of hands

Record ID: 346817

  • Title: GERMANY: Chancellor Angela Merkel starts her re-election campaign, presenting herself to voters as a safe pair of hands
  • Date: 14th August 2013
  • Summary: MERKEL BEING WELCOMED ON STAGE SUPPORTERS APPLAUDING MERKEL WALKING TO PODIUM YOUTH WING OF CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS (SPD) CHANTING IN GERMAN: "MERKEL OUT" (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We know what we have got with Europe. We are an export nation and we sell many of our goods in Europe. It's good news if today for the first time in one and a
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8AKDAPE124ROVOI5KLGVSZJNR
  • Story Text: German chancellor Angela Merkel launched her re-election campaign on Wednesday (August 14) by presenting herself to voters in a medieval town in the heart of Germany as a safe pair of hands who would steer the country through crisis and ensure continued prosperity.
    Returning from a three-week summer vacation, Merkel spoke to about one thousand people who packed into the town square of Seligenstadt, some waving "Angie" signs but others from the youth wing of the rival Social Democrats trying to spoil the mood with chants of "Merkel out!"
    With five weeks to go until election day, Merkel's conservatives hold a comfortable 15-point lead over the Social Democrats (SPD). That virtually ensures she will win a third term on Sept. 22, an achievement equal to only two previous post-war German leaders - Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.
    But Merkel is in a fight to preserve her centre-right majority with the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP). If she falls short, she will be forced into difficult coalition negotiations with the SPD or, failing that, the environmentalist Greens.
    Not known as a stirring speaker, Merkel offered little new in her 25-minute address. Merkel mentioned the economic growth in Germany, helping to pull out the euro zone out of recession.

    "It's good news if today for the first time in one and a half years, the euro zone can observe a small economic growth. But we also know; growth on the nod is not possible. And therefore we said: Yes, we will show solidarity in Europe. And I think this is right, everyone knows, what Europe means to us," Merkel said.
    With the violence in Egypt in mind, Merkel praised shared values within Europe.

    "What we are not arguing about in Europe and we should never forget about this, is that we live together in freedom, have the freedom of travel, freedom of speech, freedom of faith. Look at the burning churches in Egypt, we can be proud in Europe, that we share all this freedom together," she said, also hailing the decline in unemployment since she became chancellor in 2005.
    But she coupled that with a subtle warning that the prosperity Germany has enjoyed through five years of euro zone financial crisis would be at risk if the SPD or Greens were to take power.
    Germany's first woman chancellor and the first to have grown up in the formerly communist East, Merkel is the country's most popular politician, held in high esteem for her modest style and steady leadership, especially during the euro zone crisis.
    Critics, including her SPD rival for the chancellery Peer Steinbrueck, accuse Merkel of lacking vision and "lulling the country to sleep" with empty, reassuring phrases.
    Merkel chose Seligenstadt, a town which traces its origins to a fortress built by the Romans in 100 A.D., because it sits on the border of Hesse and Bavaria, two conservative-governed states that will hold regional elections next month.
    As she spoke, people gazed down from the tiny windows of medieval, half-timber houses. A traditional May Pole towered over the middle of the square.
    In her eight years as chancellor, Merkel has shifted her party to the left, co-opting many of the policies of her rivals. She is pulling Germany out of nuclear power and now advocates a minimum wage - positions she argued against several years ago.
    In keeping with her nature, the chancellor is running a cautious, risk-averse campaign. Her election posters include vague phrases like "Successful Together", "More for Families" and "Strong Economy".
    As a result, she has been criticised for skirting the issues. This week, the SPD accused her of lying to voters about the risk that Germany will have to offer Greece another financial rescue after the election.
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