Merkel rules out ‘coalition’

AfD official accused of racism over recent remarks

BITTERFELD-WOLFEN, Germany, Aug 30, (RTRS): German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday ruled out forming a government coalition after elections with either the far left or the far right.

Supporters of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party jeered her throughout a 30-minute campaign speech in the eastern city of Bitterfeld-Wolfen hours after Merkel declared comments by Alexander Gauland, a top AfD official to be racist.

Merkel, whose conservatives have a double-digit lead over the centreleft Social Democrats (SPD) in polls ahead of the Sept. 24 elections, also ruled out a coalition with Germany’s far-left Left party.

She said the SPD, junior partner in Merkel’s current coalition government, had also ruled out governing with the anti-immigrant AfD, but had not issued any clear statements on whether it would work with the Left party.

“We say clearly: no coalition with the AfD and no coalition with the Left,” Merkel said, underscoring her party’s standard line on potential future governing alliances. “The Social Democrats have been lacking this clarity.”

The chancellor, a Christian Democrat, said she did not think a so-called “Red-Red-Green” coalition of the Social Democrats with the Left and the pro-environment Greens would help advance Germany.

Such a coalition would be one possible alternative to a return of a Merkel-led coalition between her CDU/CSU conservatives and the SPD. There has also been conjecture about a coalition of the conservatives with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).

Merkel, expected to win a record-tying fourth term, defended her decision in 2015 to allow in over a million migrants, carrying on her speech despite loud heckling from a group of around 60 protesters, many of whom carried AfD signs.

Mediterranean region.” It was the first visit by an Egyptian foreign minister to Romania in seven years. Egypt is an important strategic partner for the European Union

Some booed, while others shouted “get lost” and chanted “AfD, AfD.” She has faced similar heckling at about a third of her speeches since kicking off the campaign on Aug 12.

Social Democrat Martin Schulz, speaking at a campaign event in the eastern German city of Erfurt, also criticised Gauland’s remarks. He welcomed a move by Thomas Fischer, the former lead judge in Germany’s constitutional court to file a formal complaint against Gauland for “incitement to hatred”.

Merkel held a traditional summer news conference on Tuesday, just less than a month before Germany’s Sept. 24 national election.

Following are highlights of her comments:

On car emissions scandal

“There is a huge disappointment (in the auto industry over the emissions scandal) — and this does not apply only to me, you can also see this among the people.”

Talks

“There surely is a certain sense of fury. And I have to say that we can not simply go back and do business as usual with the car industry ... There will be a second round of talks (with car industry executives).”

On Turkey/EU

“Regarding the customs union, I want to say clearly — and I’ll tell the (European) Commission President this tomorrow and also the (EU) Presidency who is responsible for that — I, and we as the German government, do not think that we’ll be able, in the coming months, to give a mandate to speak about the customs union as long as the situation remains as it is.”

On Euro/German trade surplus

“We don’t exert political influence over the exchange rate. We’re pleased about our competitiveness and we avoid unfair trade practices.”

“I am not the one who decides on the euro exchange rate.”

“If the euro zone is very low then it is easier for German exporters to place their products on the global market — every change in the euro

in countering terrorism and limiting the flow of migrants from the Middle East and Africa across the sea to Europe.

Melescanu said Romania offered Egypt exchange rate has an impact on our ability to export and of course puts new pressure on our competitiveness.”

“I personally don’t see the trade surplus per se as so dramatic ... and if the trade surplus goes down now, it is part of things that we don’t have any influence on at all.”

On eurozone

“Regarding the eurozone, we have very positive data. All member states of the euro zone are showing economic growth, including Greece.”

“I think that we’re in a much better position today than we were a year ago, when I was a lot more worried and I wish Greece every success. I know that it is very, very difficult for many people but I think that Greece will also benefit from more jobs and then gradually from more prosperity.”

On European stability mechanism

“I think the suggestion from (Finance Minister) Wolfgang Schaeuble to turn the European Stability Mechanism into a European Monetary Fund is a very good idea and it could make us even more stabile and allow us to show the world that we have all the mechanisms in our own portfolio of the euro zone to be able to react well to unexpected situations.”

On Russia and Ukraine conflict

“I am working together with the French President and also with the help of the United States on finding solutions (for the Ukraine crisis) within the Normandy format.”

“We just made clear in our joint statement released yesterday that the observance of the ceasefire agreement is of the utmost importance.”

“If the Minsk agreement is kept, then the requirement will be met for lifting the sanctions on Russia.”

On migrant policy

“Europe has not yet done its homework — we do not have a functioning Dublin system — that needs to be reformed and the interior ministers are working on that — and not everyone is willing to ensure a fair distribution of refugees when they arrive in Europe.”

advice on fighting corruption and improving its electoral process.

Romania and Egypt signed three agreements on Tuesday to enhance cooperation, including an agreement that scraps visa requirements for those with diplomatic and special passports, and an accord to promote tourism to each country. (AP)

NATO to send war-games monitors:

NATO said Wednesday it will send three experts to observe military exercises between Russia and Belarus next month but alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wants the two countries to allow broader monitoring.

Russia and Belarus say the Zapad 2017 exercise, which runs from Sept 14 to Sept 20 not far from the borders of NATO allies Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, will involve less than 13,000 troops. Under international rules, the two should allow wider access to monitors if troop numbers exceed that figure.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the three experts will attend “Visitors’ Days” in Belarus and Russia after they were invited to attend.

But she said international rules permit monitors to have much wider access, including briefings on the exercise, opportunities to talk to soldiers and overflights. (AP)