The former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder uses harsh and cutting words towards Angela Merkel in the interview with La Stampa. Terrible mistakes, monstrous delays on Greece and Europe, all to heed the mood of the tabloids. It is the first glacial comment.
Schröder then also spoke of his party in trouble, of the future of Europe and of relations with the United States. “Merkel's monetary policy – he says – was completely wrong, just as the position of the Bundesbank is wrong. Mario Draghi, on the other hand, did an extraordinary job, he wrested from the markets the time necessary for governments to make reforms. But now it's time for them to do it."
And he adds: “No more austerity. In some Southern European countries the social problems are becoming serious, the unemployment rates unsustainable. The risk is the end of the European project. Countries need to be given time to make reforms. If the countries show themselves available, for me it also makes sense to turn a blind eye to the limits of the Stability Pact".
On Italy's role in Europe, the former Social Democrat chancellor believes that the positive developments began with Mario Monti and are continuing with Enrico Letta. “Italy, after years of removal, is putting the problems on the table: pensions, work. From here to solve them, it takes. But I'm confident."
And what about the findings on US espionage in Europe? Schröder doesn't seem surprised, indeed he says he is aware that his phone calls were being listened to. Obviously he does not hide that it is an unacceptable scandal, but he maintains: “People have no friends, but interests, as Bismark said. And in defending their own, the Americans are unbeatable."
There is room, at the end of the interview, perhaps for a veiled self-criticism of what has been done in the past. Merkel seems to have taken advantage of the former chancellor's Agenda 2010, since she replaced him at the helm of the country, because right from then (in view of the reforms implemented by Schröder) Germany has begun to run. “Unfortunately – explains Schröder – there is always a time gap between reforms and results. And it is into this 'hole' that a politician can fall. I consciously ran the risk of not being re-elected. If others then took advantage of my reforms, I certainly cannot regret having made them”.
