Neighbours split over political drama

TREPIDATION, ELATION ‘Without a dynamic Germany, Europe cannot recover’

The electoral deadlock in Germany was greeted in Europe with a mixture of glee and gloom, as the country’s partners and allies faced the prospect of Europe’s giant paralyzed by self- absorption.

In Brussels and Paris there was talk of the Franco- German alliance, the traditional motor of European Union integration, being stalled by the election crisis.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, said: “I urge the German leaders to find as soon as possible a stable solution. Without a dynamic Germany, Europe cannot recover.”

Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair — although nominally a leader from the left like Social Democratic Party leader Gerhard Schroeder — was on glacially bad terms with Mr. Schroeder over Berlin’s bitter criticism of the Iraq war and its opposition to EU farm reform.

Mr. Blair sent a pointed message of his feelings in June when he arranged to see Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel in Berlin before dining with the Chancellor.

Many in central and eastern Europe had similarly rooted for Ms. Merkel. Politicians in Poland and the former Baltic states felt alarmed by Mr. Schroeder’s close alliance with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and his hostile rhetoric towards the United States, seen by the former communist nations as a pillar of European security.

They also resented Mr. Schroeder’s move to force them to raise their company tax rates to bring them into line with higher German taxation rates.

Turkish leaders, however, were pleased with the deadlock. Talks on Turkey’s bid to join the EU are to start on Oct. 3, and Ms. Merkel had promised to block full Turkish membership, calling instead for an offer of “privileged partnership.”

Of all the European powers, France is most closely allied with Berlin, and yesterday it looked on with trepidation at the struggle to determine its political direction. The outcome could have farreaching repercussions on the French economy and the health of the EU.

“Paralysis” was how the left-leaning daily Libération viewed the cliffhanger vote. “It is Europe which comes out of it even more uncertain,” the newspaper said.

Another paper,

Aujourd’hui en France, asked whether Germany was “Ungovernable?”

Allies of French President Jacques Chirac said the Franco- German alliance would survive whatever the outcome. But all eyes were on Mr. Chirac’s bitter rival, the Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who hopes to succeed him in 2007.

Mr. Sarkozy, who is also the leader of Mr. Chirac’s ruling party, had publicly

hailed Ms. Merkel, saying that she

had “completely identical views”

to his.

“I want to give you my congratulations for this electoral victory

as well as my warmest wishes for

success in what is to come. I strongly hope that you are able to gather a

solid coalition around you and

the CDU,” Mr. Sarkozy

said in a message to Ms.

Merkel yesterday.