Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BERLIN79
2010-01-20 17:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN ECONOMICS MINISTER: SMALL IS GOOD
how-toVZCZCXRO4286 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHRL #0079/01 0201748 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201748Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6318 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000079
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ZFR RECALL BERLIN 79 - INFO WILL BE RE-ISSUED UNDER ZFR
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SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE (HODGES, SCHROEDER)
COMMERCE FOR AGORSHENIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2020
TAGS: ECON EIND GM PGOV
SUBJECT: GERMAN ECONOMICS MINISTER: SMALL IS GOOD
BERLIN 00000079 001.2 OF 002
MURPHY
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keep the euro strong. Bruederle also mentioned his upcoming
visit to Washington February 1 and 2 and asked for
Ambassador's help in securing appointments with key officials
at Commerce, Energy, USTR, Treasury and the White House's
National Economic Council.
7. (C) COMMENT. Bruederle is less charismatic than his
predecessor zu Guttenberg, an energetic 38-year old
aristocrat, but not as &pale8 as former CSU economics
minister Michael Glos (2005-2009). He may be a &dinosaur,8
as some critics say, but he is a very strong-willed dinosaur
with more vision than Glos, and more experience than zu
Guttenberg. On the other hand, CDU contacts tell us that
they perceive him as a &weak link8 in the cabinet line-up,
since he lacks zu Guttenberg,s political gravitas. FDP
contacts tell us that Bruederle can be a &wild card8 who
from time to time needs to be reined in. Bruederle,s
frequent, off-the-cuff comments are a case in point. Last
November, he dismissed criticisms over the government's
proposed debt-financed tax cuts from Germany,s Council of
Economic Advisors (the highly respected &Five Wise Men8)
with the quip that &professors cannot replace the reasoning
of political leaders. That is why they are advisors and not
decision-makers.8 Bruederle has finally reached the
pinnacle of power after 11 years in opposition, but the jury
is still out on whether he can successfully manage an
economic turnaround in 2010. END COMMENT.
MURPHY
ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR
ZFR ZFR
ZFR RECALL BERLIN 79 - INFO WILL BE RE-ISSUED UNDER ZFR
ZFR NEW NUMBERS ZFR
ZFR ZFR
ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE (HODGES, SCHROEDER)
COMMERCE FOR AGORSHENIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2020
TAGS: ECON EIND GM PGOV
SUBJECT: GERMAN ECONOMICS MINISTER: SMALL IS GOOD
BERLIN 00000079 001.2 OF 002
MURPHY
BERLIN 00000079 002 OF 002
keep the euro strong. Bruederle also mentioned his upcoming
visit to Washington February 1 and 2 and asked for
Ambassador's help in securing appointments with key officials
at Commerce, Energy, USTR, Treasury and the White House's
National Economic Council.
7. (C) COMMENT. Bruederle is less charismatic than his
predecessor zu Guttenberg, an energetic 38-year old
aristocrat, but not as &pale8 as former CSU economics
minister Michael Glos (2005-2009). He may be a &dinosaur,8
as some critics say, but he is a very strong-willed dinosaur
with more vision than Glos, and more experience than zu
Guttenberg. On the other hand, CDU contacts tell us that
they perceive him as a &weak link8 in the cabinet line-up,
since he lacks zu Guttenberg,s political gravitas. FDP
contacts tell us that Bruederle can be a &wild card8 who
from time to time needs to be reined in. Bruederle,s
frequent, off-the-cuff comments are a case in point. Last
November, he dismissed criticisms over the government's
proposed debt-financed tax cuts from Germany,s Council of
Economic Advisors (the highly respected &Five Wise Men8)
with the quip that &professors cannot replace the reasoning
of political leaders. That is why they are advisors and not
decision-makers.8 Bruederle has finally reached the
pinnacle of power after 11 years in opposition, but the jury
is still out on whether he can successfully manage an
economic turnaround in 2010. END COMMENT.
MURPHY