The headlines of yesterday's Weekend FT screamed out at the British public in a ploy to support the Conservatives from the narrow minded political Luddites of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) with a jingoistic "Cameron wins rare victory in Europe".
On page two there is a picture of Cameron and Merkel, she looking up to him- again demonstrating British "superiority". The devil, as always, is in the detail.
The caption to the picture whispers that Merkel got the budget deal she wanted by giving her backing to David Cameron. In the article it goes on to say how important Ms. Merkel was as "the broker in the talks (who) won almost precisely the budget she wanted".
The British public and Mr Cameron won a boost to their ego's which in this case I appreciate the need for. I also appreciate the need to play down Ms. Merkel's role in this on the front page but it is unfortunate that it is necessary.
Merkel might be a bit obsessed with power but damn if she doesn't tend to use it in a pragmatic and constructive way balancing domestic and international-dare I say intranational in the EU- context.
Yesterday domestically she had to "accept" the resignation of the Minister for Education who's doctorate was questioned for its' originality which is a whole other story. What was interesting was to see how Merkel was visibly upset by having to lose a competent cabinet minister, and yet was not going to let it fester as so many political leaders do.
No, realpolitik is alive and well in Germany- and Mr Cameron happened to fit in nicely.
One can only hope he continues to do so.
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