Germany’s Ghosts

Germany is always going to face a problem if they try to force a neighbour’s hand. The spirited rejection of the German suggestion to send a commissioner to monitor Greece’s government spending is the latest example. Germany desperately wants (and Merkel needs) to get a quid-pro-quo out of their southern European neighbours – stability in exchange for eye-watering amounts of money. The moment Germany starts encroaching on national sovereignty, a unified chorus of horror sweeps across Europe.

We’re familiar with the dynamic – European countries don’t want to find themselves under the jackboot of oppression again. But oft ignored are the domestic sensibilities: The main opposition party SPD’s leader Sigmar Gabriel compared the proposed commissioner to a dictatorship – very strong words. Even Germany’s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the ‘tone of the debate’ – and that dissatisfaction was directed at his own government.

While it is very easy (and, I’ll admit it, sometimes fun) to lurch back to the old German stereotypes – they hardly bear any relation to the current situation. Germany was only trying to protect its own interests as anyone would in Germany’s shoes. But because of Germany’s difficult relationship with its past rather than the merits of the proposal, those pushing for tighter fiscal control have been taken down a peg both domestically and internationally – hardly the behaviour of a country hell-bent on domination.

Maybe Germany should have foreseen this reaction and kept its money to itself.