Nah, FDP is a right wing free market liberal party, that while having some things in common with SPD has less in common with the Greens, but it seems they have found a compromise to work on.Looks like what they have in common are left-leaning goals.
political expediencies at a gallop.Germany: Post-Merkel coalition promises progressive agenda
Here are some parts of their government program.
Yes, as this was an easy one for all three parties.Lower voting age to 16?
Yes, as this was an easy one for all three parties.
Glaringly absent is foreign policy and military.
Greens and FDP have issues to be tougher on Russia and China than SPD could ever conceive of or accept (CDU likewise). Tougher on human rights violations and not be so quick to overlook issues such as Taiwan. FDP for instance had already tossed the so called "One China" policy and, same as the Greens, gets on Beijing's case for smashing liberty, freedom and voting in Hong Kong, in violation of the handover agreement with UK.
Merkel only this year sent a Navy frigate to Japan to join in Freedom of Navigation Ops through the Taiwan Strait, the East Sea between China and Japan, and the South China Sea of course. While FDP is attentive to these kind of issues Baerbock is a hawk on 'em and wants to strengthen Germany's presence in the western Pacific along with NATO partners there already, namely the US, Canada, France, UK, Australia, Netherlands and of course Japan whose self defense force is NATO compatible and interoperative with the US armed forces.
During the campaign Habeck went to Ukraine and the front lines to say Germany needs to sell "defensive weapons" to 'em which raised a storm back home, ie, while Germany sells arms to other countries -- its Leopard 2 main battle tank being in demand -- it does not sell weapons into an active war zone which Ukraine is considered to be. Habeck seems though and perhaps rightly so to see this as being a distinction without a difference, and given current developments this issue will likely rise again. Significantly though, it's a change of established German attitude that Habeck voices.
Nord Stream 2 is not presented in the typically five section topics of the agreement, ie, not in energy, not in climate, economics, foreign policy. Scholtz and his Russia Hugging SPD remain for the pipeline and its politics while the Greens want to blow it up and FDP wants a moratorium and a treaty before any approval can be made by German regulators and the EU Commission. It seems clear however the three parties are going to continue to lie low on the Russo-German Axis of Energy Blackmail while the regulators in Germany continue to bust the chops of the Kremlin and then will hand it over to the EU Commission where they're preparing the rack for the Russians.
Nordstream2 is a minor headline on the back of the paper, nobody really talks about it.
The German energy regulator went straight at the Kremlin's NS 2 AG -- they're punting nothing. The German Federal Network Agency (using simple English for the regulator) suspended certification processing of NS 2 AG for its refusal to transfer its incorporation to Germany from neutral Switzerland as required by German law. Moreover the FNA rejected the Gazprom alternative that NS 2 AG establish a subsidiary in Germany while its main resources and principal officers remain incorporated in Switzerland. The suspension is in force until NS 2 AG complies which according to NS 2 AG is never.Nord Stream 2 is a hot potato. The larger Russo German relations as well. I believe the Bundesgazregulator was more a man in search of a reason to punt the ball than a stickler for certification under German Law.
Now the Green Lady is no more on the safe sidelines. She may soon be blamed for all hardships- real or imagined- that can be remotely connected to gas. Any time Joe German notices a slight increase in any purchase, I wonder if he will inhale bitterly and curse the Green Witch.
The Bundesgazregulator did the incoming Bundeskanzler and his unstable coalition no favours. Best case scenario would be Herr Scholz and the Green Fraulein complaining that their hands are tied, that deed on Nord Stream 2 was a done deal, that to unravel it would do more harm than good. All while feigning sincerity.
Now that hot potato appears to have a long shelf life. To Herr Scholz' consternation. If and when Her Bundesgazregulator takes up certification it would be in the mix of deafening howls of protests from Ukraine, Poland and the three Baltic midgets at every step. With the US Congress getting in its digs from distance away.
And this is not even at the European Commission yet.
Nah, FDP is a right wing free market liberal party, that while having some things in common with SPD has less in common with the Greens, but it seems they have found a compromise to work on.
I was impressed by the calm and dignified transition to the new government and Chancellor. No fuss - just a grown-up approach to transition and a solid show of support for Merkel.So Scholz will be sworn in today. Exit Merkel, Enter Scholz. A new era for German politics.
He has been around, a veteran politician and Finance Minister in Merkel's last government. Most Europeans see continuity and experience in Scholz.I was impressed by the calm and dignified transition to the new government and Chancellor. No fuss - just a grown-up approach to transition and a solid show of support for Merkel.
What do Europeans think of Scholz?
Soft-spoken, generally of a reserved manner, he's neither the one known for punching it out with anyone nor for ever having been the life of any party.I was impressed by the calm and dignified transition to the new government and Chancellor. No fuss - just a grown-up approach to transition and a solid show of support for Merkel.
What do Europeans think of Scholz?
reminds me of a saying I heard back in my days in Germany, by which the Bundeswehr is a folklore band designed to entertain any invading enemy until real military arrives.
Verteidigungsminister = Minister of Defense
reminds me of a saying I heard back in my days in Germany, by which the Bundeswehr is a folklore band designed to entertain any invading enemy until real military arrives.
Well, any Defense Minister*esseJupp. I was serwing ´91. We had to build up 27m high antennas in the wilderness several times a day in maneuver. We needed mostly an hour and they told us the russians - ähm the blue army - would find us in half an hour
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