SPD CHANCELLOR-CANDIDATE STEINMEIER EXPRESSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001125 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2019 TAGS: PGOV GM SUBJECT: SPD CHANCELLOR-CANDIDATE STEINMEIER EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE GERMANS WILL REJECT CDU/CSU-FDP COALITION REF: A. FRANKFURT 2274 ¶B. LEIPZIG 26 Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Stan Otto for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: SPD Chancellor-candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier used a campaign appearance in Osnabrueck attended by PolOff to dismiss the prospects of a CDU/CSU-FDP government after the next parliamentary elections on September 27. Speaking to over 2,000 people in Osnabrueck -- an SPD stronghold -- Steinmeier said he was convinced that a majority of Germans would reject a CDU/CSU-FDP government. He further asserted that the death knell for the CDU/CSU-FDP was sounded at the state elections in Saarland and Thuringia. He criticized the CDU/CSU for its lack of economic depth. END SUMMARY. Steinmeier: "Those Who Hide Will be Voted Out" -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) Speaking to a friendly crowd of about 2,000 in Osnabrueck, a city west of Hannover, Social Democratic Party (SPD) chancellor candidate and Foreign Minister Steinmeier -- clearly frustrated by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) strategy to run a low-key campaign -- contended that the CDU/CSU and FDP "would get hit over the head and be voted out." His remark played on the CDU's inability to form coalitions with the FDP in Saarland or Thuringia, where state elections were held August 30 (see refs). Steinmeier argued that during a time of economic crisis, only the SPD had the economic competence and ideas necessary to lead Germany out of its recession -- an assertion also made by Chancellor Merkel regarding a CDU/CSU-FDP government. Steinmeier reiterated his call for international regulation of the financial markets and -- to great applause -- criticized banks for continuing to pay out bonuses. He also took a swipe at North Rhine Westphalia's (NRW) Minister-President Juergen Ruettgers for what Steinmeier referred to as his recent "racist" remarks about Romanian workers. He warned that Ruettgers' remark played perfectly into the hands of the "right wing mob." (Note: In a public speech August 28, Ruettgers commented that Romanian workers are not punctual and not able to get the job done as well as workers in NRW. End note.) On nuclear energy, Steinmeier called for Germany to focus more on renewables and divest itself from atomic power. Avoiding Confrontation -------------- ¶3. (C) Looking forward to his television debate with CDU Chancellor Angela Merkel on September 13, Steinmeier told the "Augsburger Allgemeine" that "it would not be believable for the German public if Ms. Merkel and I are running the government together in the morning and in the afternoon we are at each other's throats during a TV debate." Comment: The German electorate dislikes bickering between politicians. Steinmeier will have to avoid making any personal attacks on the Chancellor if he wants to maintain a statesmanlike image. As Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister in Chancellor Merkel's government, Steinmeier's options for scoring points on September 13 will be more limited than Merkel's. End comment. Westerwelle or Zu Guttenberg as Foreign Minister - No Way! -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Steinmeier became very animated (and clearly protective of his position) when discussing his possible successors at the MFA. "Who knows who wants to be Foreign Minister these days," he quipped. He mocked FDP Chairman Guido Westerwelle's ambitions to become Foreign Minister and accused the CDU/CSU-FDP of spending more time squabbling over future ministerial positions than of offering the electorate concrete ideas for moving the country out of its economic crisis. He ridiculed the notion that CSU Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg would move into the MFA. Dredging up a tried-and-true SPD crowd-pleaser, Steinmeier reminded the party faithful that the only party that stood up to the United States on Iraq in 2003 was the SPD; this drew strong applause. He did not raise Afghanistan. Murphy