The euro is a vital issue for Germany. There is no other country that derives as much benefit from the common domestic market and the monetary union as Germany. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
Nevertheless, I don’t hesitate to say that elections in Germany are decided in the center, not on the fringes and not in the accumulation of minority interests. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
You can’t exactly bake a man to your specifications. Most of all, one shouldn’t alienate a candidate. A hybrid of Einstein, Tarzan and Inge Meysel doesn’t exist. Besides, the images of politicians in the media aren’t always accurate. I’ve had my share of experiences in that regard. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
But I would bet that the euro continues to exist and that its importance as a global currency will likely increase. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
One has to explain to people that the EU in this form is the answer both to 1945 and to the 21st century, in a dramatically altered world with new heavyweights, and that Germany benefits from the continued integration of Europe in political, economic and societal ways. And, of course, that means the Germans will have to pay. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
There’s no more place in the euro zone for well-meaning laxness when dealing with deficits and failings. If the demands on Greece aren’t taken seriously, we’ll get stuck in quicksand. In the worst case, this would make it acceptable for one tranche to not be paid out. It is in the Greeks own interest not to test that. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
Over a period of 20 years, German reunification has cost 2 trillion euros, or an average of 100 billion euros a year. So, we have to ask ourselves: Aren’t we willing to pay a tenth of that over several years for Europe’s unity? Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
You can’t let a candidate run for too long. He will be dragged along, cut apart, put back together and ripped to shreds again – from both the political opponents and the media. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
The U.S. will lose its status as the superpower of the world financial system. The world will become multi-polar. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
If I had political responsibility, I would want to prepare for a plan B that would foresee that the European currency union, that the eurozone, no longer necessarily consists of 17 member states. And that means to make provisions so that other countries are not pulled into the maelstrom through contagion. Peer Steinbruck Read Quote
