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The current fuss surrounding German Federal President Christian Wulff (52) -since June 30th, 2010- will be solved anyway. Mme Chancellor Angela Merkel is going to be a crucial part in this episode. One is quite reminded of the Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg affair when the popular former German defense minister had to resign due to his 'copy and paste' dissertation issue when unpleasant details had trickled down to the public. Then, Mme Chancellor stood behind her defense minister - but not for long.
This time, Ms. Merkel is going to see the Federal President's affair of getting 'pea nuts interest conditions on a €500.000 ($650.000) loan' by a private business friend or buddy (?) and the subsequent exchange of the loan for even better conditions by the state bank of Baden-Württemberg and the 'enraged' infringement of free press by calling the chief deskman of the conservative-friendly tabloid 'Bild Zeitung' on his answering machine and 'declaring war on him'.
This flak of the Federal President's has left a bad scent, for sure. Freedom of the press, one of the highest tenets in any democracy questioned by the first representative, surely has some unique quality for discussing in elevated political circles, right?
Mme Chancellor has been standing behind her president, for now.
The picture of standing behind you is not that positive as you might think. She had better stay in front of him and not behind. Because seeing the abyss at a cliff is not a neat thing, people behind you might be inclined of giving you the crucial kick in the butt, and here you go - power obsession and keeping the post are more important than the office of the Federal President, you might be inclined to think.
For Merkel, her actions are quite comprehensible. By removing every competitor for her office, take Mr. Merz, Mr. Koch, Mr. Wulff, Mr. zu Guttenberg, she has still been thinking of her invincibility.
A lot of conservative Christian Union and CSU polititians have been considering other candidates in a post-Merkel government. Her era will end in 2013, with regular national elections - if not earlier.
One successor of hers might be the current Labor and Social Affairs' Minister, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen.
Having been former Family Minister, she loved to be named 'Mrs. Federal Mom'.
She would be the proper candidate with her flock of children. She also has the ability to represent Germany on an educated and quite sophisticated new level.
In this case, Merkel would have removed another competitor who might challenge her in her own party.
I don't think that Pres.Wulff will be in office till the end of his 5 year term.
Baron zu Guttenberg had to resign within months after the bad news had broken. The same will apply to Mr. Wulff.
There will be no state crisis because of this Wulff affair.
