MERKEL CLAIMS POLITICAL CENTER FOR CDU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 002186

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL GM
SUBJECT: MERKEL CLAIMS POLITICAL CENTER FOR CDU

REF: BERLIN 1977

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR JEFFREY RATHKE FOR REASONS
1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: German Chancellor Angela Merkel's central
and ever present role in the Christian Democratic Union's
(CDU) December 3-4 convention and the absence of any major
internal opposition to her policies or leadership reinforce
her position as the undisputed leader of the most
U.S.-friendly party in the German political landscape.
Merkel delivered a centrist address at the party's Hannover
convention and received an 8-minute standing ovation. Her
speech also included strong pro-U.S. statements. The CDU
passed a new platform, for only the third time in its
history, which embodies the party's economic reform
orientation, positive posture towards transatlantic
relations, and growing confidence as an international player.
Both Merkel and the platform received virtually unanimous
support from party delegates in a convention devoid of much
programmatic debate. Merkel's confident performance and the
party's display of unity are likely to improve the CDU's
already strong standing, which the party hopes to convert
into electoral success in three state elections in Hesse,
Lower Saxony, and Hamburg in early 2008 and eventually in the
federal elections scheduled for 2009. End summary.


2. (SBU) In her speech, the Chancellor referred to "a close
friendship with the country that has supported German freedom
and unification like no other, a friendship with the United
States of America" that Germany should continue to build
upon. The platform elaborated that transatlantic relations
have always been and will remain an important foundation for
peace, freedom, and prosperity in Germany. In the platform,
the CDU expressly thanked the United States for freeing
Germany of National Socialism and communism. (Note: In an
encouraging display of pro-Americanism, Poloffs saw a handful
of delegates from the former East Germany wearing pins of
intertwined U.S. and German flags, a sight unseen at any
other recent political party convention in Germany. End
note.)

Staking Out the Political Center
--------------


3. (SBU) The convention was the CDU's kick-off to what
promises to be an increasingly intense and partisan state and
federal election campaign season. The CDU seeks to claim the
political center as its own, in response to the left-leaning
Social Democratic Party's (SPD) populist message at its
October convention (see reftel) (which advocates rolling back
some of the economic reform policies of former Chancellor
Schroeder's market-oriented Agenda 2010). The convention's
logo was simply, "The Center." and was designed to send an
unambiguous message to the German public that the CDU is the
only truly centrist party in Germany. The CDU used the
convention as an opportunity to distance itself from its
governing partner, the SPD, which it claims has been pulled
towards the left by The Left party. Whereas the SPD adopted
a new platform that embraces "democratic socialism," Merkel
responded that "We never again want socialism." Merkel
declared that "We -- and only we -- are the Center."
Minister-President of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff, referring
to the SPD, added that "Others have lost their way."


4. (C) The party's centrist message included the following
highlights:

-- On SECURITY: Merkel advocated a "modern" security policy
which recognizes that one can no longer separate domestic and
foreign policy, since events overseas affect German security
at home. She spoke in favor of Interior Minister Schaeuble's
proposal for online computer searches and proposed that the
German Army be deployed domestically as necessary, under
certain conditions and circumstances, for domestic security.
(Note: The proposal on domestic use of the German Army is
sure to face stiff opposition from other parties, and may not
even enjoy consensus support within the CDU. End note.)

-- On CHINA: In response to ongoing SPD criticism of the
Chancellor's meeting with the Dalai Lama, Merkel asserted
that human rights are one of the bases of German foreign
policy.

-- On RUSSIA: A close relationship with the U.S. should not
foreclose a strategic partnership with Russia, according to
Merkel and the platform. The strategic relationship,
however, must be able to withstand criticism, Merkel insisted.

-- On GLOBALIZATION: Merkel claimed that Germany is the
"engine of Europe." She sees globalization not only as an
obvious matter of fact, but also as an opportunity for

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export-champion Germany, noting that Germany has performed
exceptionally well in international markets.

-- On GERMANY'S ROLE IN THE WORLD: According to the party
platform, Germany "stands ready to allocate the resources and
instruments for its international duties and
responsibilities." In pursuit of its goals of freedom and
security, Merkel noted that Germany needs partners among the
great powers, and cannot "go it alone."

-- On CLIMATE CHANGE: The CDU proposes a climate strategy
that favors binding limits for greenhouse gases as well as
the development of climate-friendly technologies. Their goal
is to limit global warming to 2 degrees centigrade by
reducing greenhouse emissions at least 30 percent by 2020
compared to 1990 levels.

-- On EU DEFENSE POLICY: The CDU aims for a common EU
foreign and security policy, to include energy security as
well. It advocates further development of the European
Security and Defense Policy, but underscores that NATO
remains the primary security instrument for Germany and
Europe.

-- On the UNITED NATIONS: The CDU reiterated its desire for
a permanent seat for the EU on the Security Council.

-- On TURKEY: The CDU reiterated support for a "privileged
relationship" for Turkey instead of EU membership.

-- On LABOR MARKET REFORMS: Merkel urged the SPD to continue
on the path towards market-oriented reform of Germany's labor
markets, begun in the Gerhard Schroeder era. Instead of
industry-specific minimum wages, the CDU stresses the
importance of job creation.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) The CDU is currently the most popular party in
Germany, polling at about 40% of public support in a field of
five major parties. But according to polls, in the current
political landscape, it would not be assured of forming a
majority coalition with another party if it were to attempt
to break free from its marriage of necessity to the SPD. The
party hopes that momentum gained from its convention --
putting the highly popular Chancellor front-and-center and
displaying its centrist platform -- will parlay into
electoral success. Indeed, the CDU hopes to sweep all three
state elections in early 2008, thereby giving it the boost it
needs to push further ahead of the SPD and place itself in
position to form a future coalition with its natural and
historical partner, the Free Democratic Party (FDP).
TIMKEN JR