The ill will many Greeks feel towards Germany for imposing painful financial conditions on the massive loans the country made to them are just a normal response to a difficult situation, says German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. “It’s natural for people suffering from their own mistakes to blame others,” Schaeuble tells CBS journalist Steve Kroft on famed show “60Minutes.” He explains Europe’s debt crisis, and talks about a scenario that could worsen the U.S. economic recovery. Kroft’s report will be broadcast on “60 Minutes,” Sunday, April 8.
“Greeks Have been Living Beyond Their Means”
“When you have countries or people who have been living beyond their means, and now they have to apply some austerity, they have to make cuts, they have to reform their labor market…people tend to push the blame to others,” Schaeuble says. “They are looking for scapegoats. It’s perfectly normal.”
Schaeuble also refers to the protest posters featuring Swastikas that allude to German domination and World War II. Greek anger with the way they believe Germany has taken over their economy is boiling over on the country’s streets. During the past months, protesters burned German flags and defaced the Bank of Greece’s headquarters to make it look like the Bank of Berlin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was depicted in Nazi uniform on the front page of right-wing newspaper Democracy above a headline alluding to Auschwitz; even Schaeuble himself was portrayed as a Nazi officer in posters and newspapers.
“That’s part of politics,” says the finance minister to Kroft. Adding, “I’m just trying to do my job and Germany doesn’t want to dominate anyone. I too, remember World War II. It doesn’t mean we want to dominate anybody. Germany tried to do so in the past and it never worked, but it no longer wants to do so today.”
With yet more drastic cuts in spending and reductions in pensions and salaries anticipated after upcoming elections, Greeks face a long, hard road ahead of them – and it appears Germany will bear the brunt of Greece’s composite anger and outrage even more. In fact, only a day after a 77-year old shot himself in front of the Greek parliament – calling the Greek government a “Tsolakoglou occupation government ” (which was the Greek government to the World War II administration led by army officer Georgios Tsolakoglou that collaborated with Nazi occupiers) – and the riots that erupted in central Athens as result of this tragedy, the German’s FM interview is bound to provoke even more reactions.
Watch a segment from Schaeuble’s interview here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57409497/german-finance-minister-were-greeces-scapegoat/
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