http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,764233,00.htmlGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel likes to make important announcements when no one is expecting them. For instance, she criticized the pope during a state visit to Germany by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and chose a provincial gathering of her party in Meschede, central Germany, to urge the Portuguese, Greeks and Italians to work harder.
Last Thursday, Merkel was chatting with Moldovan Prime Minister Vladimir Filat about the troubled Eastern European province of Transnistria when the conversation turned to what is probably the most controversial personnel issue in international politics today: the question of who will succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"We should propose a European," said Merkel, and the journalists at the meeting knew immediately that it was time to prick up their ears. Because of the "considerable problems with the euro," Merkel said, someone needs to be appointed who is familiar with conditions on the continent.
It was meant to be a signal of strength, and of Europe's determination not to allow a Chinese, Brazilian or Mexican to take on the world's most important financial job. In fact, however, it was a signal of weakness. Once again, the chancellor has not managed to elevate a German to a key international position.