12 Quotes by Gero Neugebauer

We're still not sure whether all this is a planned strategy of the SPD leadership or if they are taking it step by step. It put the CDU under initial pressure, but it somewhat backfired, as Merkel's position has received firm and repeated backing from her state prime ministers.

She probably has enough steam to get into the harbor . . . but whether she will have the power to overhaul the German system is, I think, quite unlikely. Germans want some economic reforms, sure. But not Reaganomics that take away traditional strong social protections.

When he started to think that people could believe his model could become true then the campaign was weakened. People hesitated. They started to think if they would have to pay more tax than before.

I think that there has been criticism directed at Schroeder from inside the party. Schroeder is doing some downgrading of the price of a grand coalition, but that doesn't mean he is completely out of the race for chancellor.

That can't be the goal of any of the major parties. The people would likely punish them at the ballots for not being able to overcome their inner-party conflicts and finally form a government. They're sick of it.

Merkel has absolutely no choice but to rein in spending. She'll have zero room for maneuver if she doesn't tackle the deficit.

Unemployment is obviously the biggest problem at the moment. But I'm not sure if the new government can really affect change in that department. Germany is too dependent on the global development.

Even if people agree with the need for reforms, they are uncertain about the flat tax. They are starting to fear that they could be the losers in this reform.

It is really a gap between the communicated state of affairs and reality. The public mood is much better than one would think it would be in the current situation.