Christian Lindner – Let Germany be as ambitious as Greece
The rule is not to hear good words about Greece from German politicians – much less praise from German finance ministers. With the exception of the rule, Christian Lindner surprised.
The president of the Liberals – from Tuesday the new Minister of Finance of Germany – warmly achieved the reform process of Greece, answering the question of the “NEWS”, considers Greece an example to be imitated even for Germany.
He announced contacts in a good and constructive atmosphere with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his counterpart Christos Staikouras in Athens.
Diffuse is the concern in the countries of the European South with the takeover of the German Ministry of Finance by the president of the Liberals Christian Lindner.
What is the South afraid of?
They fear that Germany will return to the political austerity of the past decade and, in addition, will impede the necessary reform of the Stability Pact.
“How justified are these concerns of the European partners? And what will Lindner do to entertain them? ” was the question to Lindner during the joint press conference with the future Chancellor Olaf Soltz and the Green Vice-Chancellor Robert Hubbek, on the occasion of the official signing of the government agreement of the three-party governing coalition.
Although the question did not concern only Greece, Christian Lindner used it as an occasion to praise the reform process of our country.
“The Federal Republic of Germany will focus on stability in Europe and at the same time make it possible to liberalize investment for competitiveness. “On this, the impressive and successful policy of the Greek government is for us a point of orientation,” Lindner replied.
He particularly praised that “lately it has become possible with very impressive reform steps to put the Greek economy on a new path of success.”
The new Minister of Finance had not only praise for Greece but also recommendations for his country.
“Germany still has to make the decision to be as ambitious as Greek domestic policy,” Lindner said.
This petition is addressed to the German internal court. At the same time, however, it restores the image of Greece to the German public. He also reconstructs the image of Lindner, who in the crisis period criticized Seibel for a resilient attitude towards Greece.
In the meantime, the data has changed. The consequence of the reform policy shown by the current government after the end of the Memoranda is recognized. The positive course of the Greek economy and the personal fermentations that preceded are bearing fruit.
Lindner had the opportunity to meet Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his current counterpart Christos Staikouras from their visit to Berlin in the summer of 2018, when they had their first meeting with Finance Minister Olaf Solz.
“I am glad for the next few days to continue in Athens the talks with the Prime Minister and my counterpart that we had in the past in a good and consensual atmosphere,” Lindner said yesterday.
They are not useless
Despite praise for Greece’s reform process, Lindner is a supporter of the EU’s return to the tight end of the Stability Pact.
He will not be the “commissioner of austerity” in the EU, as he recently explained. But he also stressed yesterday that the goal of the new German government in the EU will be “stability”.
Worried about rising inflation and their appreciation due to the pandemic, he needed the “we have to watch” in the coming years.