Word: merkel
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Dates: during 2010-2019
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Another row erupted over the future of nuclear power, long a controversial issue in Germany. One of Merkel's CDU allies, Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen, opened up a can of worms when he called for an end to the use of nuclear power by 2030. Merkel's spokesman said any talk of an exit strategy was "premature." But conservative governors from the south of the country, home to some of the nuclear power stations, were seething. Westerwelle chimed in with the opinion that abandoning nuclear energy would be a "serious mistake...
...Merkel has mostly tried to steer clear of confrontation by adopting a presidential style of leadership. To stop the infighting over health care she appointed a government commission to look into the matter. But her approval ratings are slipping. A poll by the TNS Emnid Institute on Feb. 17 found 51% of Germans were satisfied with her work, down from 61% the month before. With the new government "arguing more than the old coalition government," says Manfred Güllner, head of the Forsa Polling Institute, "Angela Merkel has to be careful that she doesn't lose her voters...
...deficit reached 3.3% of GDP in 2009 and is forecast to rise to more than 5% of GDP this year - far more than the 3% limit set by European Union rules. Add in worries that Berlin could end up bailing Greece out of its own financial predicament (so far Merkel's response to calls for help has been a firm nein, though she has proposed a new European Monetary Fund that could help in the future) and you can understand why Germans are disgruntled...
...Merkel's spokesman, Ulrich Wilhelm, says voters are missing the big picture. "It certainly was not the best start," Wilhelm tells TIME. "It'll take time for the parties to come together." Despite the differences, it's crucial to "look at the facts." The government has passed "important legislation regarding tax incentives for businesses, agreeing on the 2010 budget and giving the green light for the biggest investment in research and technology." (See pictures about the dangers of printing money...
...prove the show must go on, Merkel hosted another meeting of her coalition partners in Berlin late last month. Westerwelle called the talks "constructive," but just 24 hours later, repeated his controversial rant against the welfare state and said that he'd provoked a "necessary debate." In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Merkel accused Westerwelle of repeating the obvious. Of course those who work should get more than those who don't work, the Chancellor said. The message: I'm in charge. (Read: "Angela Merkel's Moment...