German Minister Quits As Coalition Split Grows

德国经济部长格罗斯(Michael Glos)出人意料地宣布辞职，而可能的继任者更倾向于反对德国总理默克尔(Angela Merkel)的经济政策。目前德国正面临着数十年来最严重的经济下滑局面。截至周日，格罗斯继任者的热门人选是古腾堡(Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg)，他是来自南部巴伐利亚州的一位好斗的保守派人士。这一更替反映了默克尔执政联盟内部分歧的不断扩大；随着9月份大选的临近，各个党派都在明争暗斗。Associated Press德国经济部长格罗斯格罗斯所在的保守派基督教社会联盟(Christian Social Union, 简称：基社盟)目前在巴伐利亚州执政，也是默克尔联合政府的一部分；该党派将决定经济部长人选。为了争取更多的民众支持，基社盟日益变得具有对抗性。目前德国正面临着上世纪四十年代以来最严重的经济收缩，但政治竞选活动可能会阻碍政府应对危机的反应。许多经济学家预计，全球第四大经济体德国今年可能会收缩2%-3%。自2005年以来，德国总理默克尔和财政部长施坦布吕克(Peer Steinbruck)就一直主导了德国经济政策，施坦布吕克来自于联合政府内部左翼的社会民主党。格罗斯一直难以左右德国对金融危机的反应或是政府的经济政策。格罗斯呼吁实施减税扩大核能使用并实施更有利于企业的劳动法规，这使得他经常陷入孤立，站在政府政策的对面。默克尔来自于联合政府的中间派，力求与社民党达成一致立场。去年秋天德国遭受金融危机冲击前，默克尔的首要任务是平衡财政预算，而不是减税。最近几周默克尔和施坦布吕克起草了一份财政刺激计划，以应对德国不断加剧的经济衰退；两人将首要任务定为投资基础设施项目，并对减税是否能带来成效表达了质疑。Marcus Walker相关阅读德国12月份工业产值较11月锐减4.6% 2009-02-06德国12月份零售额弱于预期 2009-02-03欧盟为“坏银行”策略制定准则 2009-02-02德国劳工部：经济滑坡已波及就业市场 2009-01-29德国没有面临经济灾难，经济将在下半年好转－经济部长 2009-01-22德国政府预计2009年GDP下降2.25%，降幅为六十年之最 2009-01-21


German Economy Minister Michael Glos resigned unexpectedly, allowing for a possible successor more inclined to obstruct Chancellor Angela Merkel's strategy to address the country's worst economic slump in decades.A leading candidate to succeed Mr. Glos on Sunday was Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a combative conservative from the southern state of Bavaria. The switch reflects growing divergence within Ms. Merkel's coalition as parties compete for profile ahead of national elections in September.Mr. Glos's conservative Christian Social Union, which rules Bavaria and as part of Ms. Merkel's national government chooses who will be economy minister, has been increasingly confrontational as it seeks to boost its popularity. The politicking could impede Germany's response to its deepest economic contraction since the 1940s. Many economists expect Germany, the world's fourth-biggest national economy, to shrink by 2% to 3% this year.The chancellor and Finance Minister Peer Steinbruck, of the left-leaning coalition partner the Social Democrats, have dominated German economic policy since 2005. Mr. Glos had struggled to influence Germany's response to the financial crisis or its economic policies. His calls for lower taxes, greater use of nuclear power and more business-friendly labor rules often left him isolated, to the right of government policy.Ms. Merkel has instead governed from the center and sought consensus with the Social Democrats. Before the financial crisis hit Germany in the fall, her priority was to balance the budget rather than cut taxes. When she and Mr. Steinbruck drew up a fiscal-stimulus plan in recent weeks to fight Germany's worsening recession, they gave priority to spending on infrastructure and expressed doubt about whether tax cuts would work.Marcus Walker