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February 8, 2012
Dutch journalist unsettles Merkel with questioning
Published: 27 Oct 09 11:21 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20091027-22845.html
A video clip of a dogged Dutch journalist repeatedly asking Chancellor Angela Merkel how she could trust a man who once allegedly forgot about 100,000-mark political donation to be her new finance minister has become an online sensation in Germany.
- Wulff case 'a chance to open up German politics' (7 Feb 12)
- Sarkozy looks to Merkel for re-election help (6 Feb 12)
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After Merkel confirmed that Wolfgang Schäuble would switch from the Interior Ministry to the Finance Ministry, Savelberg had an uncomfortable question for her: how could he be trusted to handle the finances of 82 million Germans if he once misplaced an illegal cash donation now worth €50,000 from the disgraced and imprisoned arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber?
Visibly unsettled, Merkel manages at first to mumble only that she has faith in Schäuble, who was forced to step down as the leader of the CDU ten years ago because of his role in a massive political slush-fund scandal surrounding former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
But Savelberg refuses to be placated by her answer and to widespread laughter asks: “How can he handle money if he forgets about 100,000 in cash in his desk?”
The chancellor then replies she won’t say anymore on the matter before nodding with a thin-lipped smile in the Dutch reporter’s direction while Merkel’s coalition partners, FDP leader Guido Westerwelle and Horst Seehofer from the CDU’s Bavarian CSU allies, look on in bemusement.
Ironically, Merkel and everyone at the press conference was aware that she owes her present position to Schäuble’s downfall a decade ago – possibly one reason he was politically rehabilitated four years ago, when he became her interior minister.
The Local (news@thelocal.de)
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Your comments about this article:
Plus are there not enough scandals in Holland for this errant journalist to chase. Don't misunderstand me, the question was perhaps a good one, seeing as how all the German journalists tried to look away or were embarrassed. However it would have been better coming from serious newspaper.
However, it seems to be a VERY common theme these days. almost everyone on Obama's financial team is a major tax crook and market de-regulator turned regulator.
You Euros would be impressed. Europe's President Obama is looking more European every day.
All he needs now is a sex scandal to gloss over the real issues, and he is ready for deifecation. Why don't you make him the EU President? He'll be looking for a new job in 3 years.