Schroeder pulls off another bold move

BERLIN – Is it the beginning of the end for Gerhard Schroeder or another shrewd move to save his job?

That’s what Germans are wondering after Schroeder turned over the reins of his centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) to loyal ally Franz Muentefering, hoping to win back party support for his increasingly unpopular government. “I can now concentrate on my job leading government and he can concentrate on the party,” Schroeder said.”It was my idea”.Schroeder, who was never especially popular with the centre-left party, managed to silence his critics inside the SPD with the move and, if nothing else, win time in his struggle to boost economic growth with his unpopular pro-business reforms.A master at pulling rabbits out of his hat at the right time, Schroeder has repeatedly defied those who have tried to write him off.Schroeder, a man with formidable personal charisma, learned to defy the odds as a boy while fending off bill collectors trying to repossess his family’s belongings.His mother, a war widow, worked as a cleaning woman.As chancellor, Schroeder has refused to bend on the painful but hated reforms that squeaked through parliament in December and ignored slumping opinion polls to push through the measures to revive Germany’s chronically under performing economy.Aides, biographers and analysts have said Schroeder is a changed man.Any fears of failing have disappeared now that he has achieved his career goals – holding the chancellorship longer than his idol Willy Brandt and avoiding the ignominy of being the first post-war leader to fail to win re-election.Those who know Schroeder, 59, say that now he is in his sixth year in power, he is no longer bending with the prevailing winds or avoiding pain-causing steps out of fear they could harm him at the polls.The man who long blamed the outside world for Germany’s anaemic economic growth and brushed off a looming recession with vows to pursue “steady hand” policies – a metaphor for doing nothing – is now winning applause from even conservative industry leaders for tackling rigid growth-hindering structures.Yet Schroeder and the SPD have slumped in polls to their lowest popularity levels since he took office in 1998.The SPD would win just 25 per cent of the vote now, nearly 25 points behind the conservative opposition Christian Democrats.Schroeder, who overcame a childhood of poverty to graduate from university with a law degree, has come from behind before.He was far behind the conservative opposition just weeks before the 2002 election and headed for certain defeat.Then, through a brilliant performance in a series of television debates and skilful campaigning, he won re-election.- Nampa-Reuters”I can now concentrate on my job leading government and he can concentrate on the party,” Schroeder said. “It was my idea”. Schroeder, who was never especially popular with the centre-left party, managed to silence his critics inside the SPD with the move and, if nothing else, win time in his struggle to boost economic growth with his unpopular pro-business reforms. A master at pulling rabbits out of his hat at the right time, Schroeder has repeatedly defied those who have tried to write him off. Schroeder, a man with formidable personal charisma, learned to defy the odds as a boy while fending off bill collectors trying to repossess his family’s belongings. His mother, a war widow, worked as a cleaning woman. As chancellor, Schroeder has refused to bend on the painful but hated reforms that squeaked through parliament in December and ignored slumping opinion polls to push through the measures to revive Germany’s chronically under performing economy. Aides, biographers and analysts have said Schroeder is a changed man. Any fears of failing have disappeared now that he has achieved his career goals – holding the chancellorship longer than his idol Willy Brandt and avoiding the ignominy of being the first post-war leader to fail to win re-election. Those who know Schroeder, 59, say that now he is in his sixth year in power, he is no longer bending with the prevailing winds or avoiding pain-causing steps out of fear they could harm him at the polls. The man who long blamed the outside world for Germany’s anaemic economic growth and brushed off a looming recession with vows to pursue “steady hand” policies – a metaphor for doing nothing – is now winning applause from even conservative industry leaders for tackling rigid growth-hindering structures. Yet Schroeder and the SPD have slumped in polls to their lowest popularity levels since he took office in 1998. The SPD would win just 25 per cent of the vote now, nearly 25 points behind the conservative opposition Christian Democrats. Schroeder, who overcame a childhood of poverty to graduate from university with a law degree, has come from behind before. He was far behind the conservative opposition just weeks before the 2002 election and headed for certain defeat. Then, through a brilliant performance in a series of television debates and skilful campaigning, he won re-election. – Nampa-Reuters