Chancellor Merkel revitalizes German Christian party : EU's Best Economy strives for Values

 

* Karlsruhe/- At a Strategically important Bi-Annual Congress of Governing Party CDU, the first since she won the 2009 National Election, Chancellor Angie Merkel, after making Germany EU's best Economic Motor, (with good chances to win a currenty raging Worldwide competition on innovative Investment, crucial for the future at this turning point of relaunch in the aftermath of the Global Crisis), started to tackle the challenge of revitalizing ChristianDemocrats by launching open Debates on hot issues in a strive to defend and promote key Moral Values :

- "We have a responsibility vis a vis Europe's Future", stressed from the outset Angie Merkel,largely popular and applauded in her CDU Party gathered at Karlsruhe, North of Strasbourg, where ReUnification's Historic former Chancellor Helmut Kohl's reappearance at her side, during an evening event, also attracted more interest, even among Young People, than a Rock Star...

- In fact, "we invite you to Debate Europe's Future", anounced the Head of CDU/CSU MEPs at EU Parliament, Werner Langen, who is experienced enough to be fully aware of what this really means in the recent EU political vocabulary, particularly after the 2007 deal concluded by French President Sarkozy and EU Commission's President Jose Barroso, to drop a pre-lectoral call to Stop controversial EU - Turkey Negotiations, on the double condition that they don't extend into the core of EU Accession and that a Political Debate on the Future of Europe should start.

- "Zukunft Denken" : "Think about the Future", is now also the timely leitmotiv of prestigious Konrad Adenauer's Foundation, currently chaired by experienced former EU Parliament's President, Hans-Gert Poettering, who, after actively chairing the ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group of MEPs for many Years, brillantly won the 2009 EU Elections in Germany at the head of CDU/CSU's candidates, following Chancellor Merkel's and French President Sarkozy's joint statements in Berlin against Turkey's impopular EU bid as contrary to EU's Identity and Values : An issue that Dr. Poettering knows perfectly well, as his manifold crystal-clear relevant statements both to "EuroFora"s co-founder from 2004 up to 2010 and other Journalists clearly indicate.

"Human Dignity", "Culture of Life", and "Integration", were among the Key-words strongly stressed at an early Morning Ecumenic Religious ceremony in Karlsruhe's Evangelical Church by the Head of Germany's Christian Catholics, ArchiBishop Dr. Robert Zollitsch, usefully completed by Baden-Wurtenberg's Protestant Bishop Dr. Ulrich Fischer's references to the "Political Actuality" and "Realism" with a positively Critical approach.

By an interesting coincidence, Zollitsch stems himself from Baden Wurtenberg, and precisely Freiburg, where People hope that Pope Benedict might visit next year (2011), as a young CDU member enthousiastically told "EuroFora".
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It's not only recent partial Elections and Nation-wide Polls which revealed the fact that Popular Debates and Politicians' guarantees particularly on Values and Identity, etc., are currently badly needed among Citizens, in Germany as also elsewhere in Europe, (but even in the US, as a recently growing 2004-2010 Values' motivated Popular Movement clearly shows) :

- "People need to know your Vision for the Future", they need "Values", protection of Human Dignity and Life, from inception up to natural death, etc.,and don't believe f.ex. that Islam and particularly Turkey might be part and parcel of EU's roots, which, on the contrary, are mainly Judeo-Christian and Greek, reminded, in a clumsy but sincere way, a simple Delegate from the Base of CDU Party, addressing himself to Chancellor Merkel, who had just concluded her speech.

-  "Positive Economic Data don't automatically lead to be accepted by the People. This is a PreCondiion, but not a Guarantee of Electoral support", stressed from the outset Bavarian ChristianSocial Party's (CSU) President, Horst Seehofer, "proposing to put accross better Values", for which "we have good Theoretical basis", but need to make clear, concrete and popular in real practice.

Thus, Seehofer combined both a call, "as Christians, not to abandon any Human Person in need of a Healthcare", (whose growing Costs due to Technologic developments must, however, be faced in one way or another), with a parallel call to replace long dependency of Unemployed People upon Social Benefits by encouragements to really help find a Job which would allow them to "become able to stand up on their own feets", as he said, while also stressing the importance for Migrants Socio-Culural "Integration".and to provide for all Childrens an adequate "Education".
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- Joining together a vibrant call to boost Innovative and Responsible Science, with a strong Criticism against irresponsible "Technocrats", Germany's Minister for Scientific and Technological Research, Professor Dr.Annette Shavan, from Strasbourg's adjacent Region Baden-Wurtenberg, was the only CDU politician to be currently re-elected twice as Vice-President. - "Karlsruhe is a good Symbol, because, we have here both a High-Tech International University Center of growing importance (KIT) and a Constitutional Court due to ensure the respect of Basic Principles, Shavan also observed.

- It's also by allying a call to drastically reduce public Debt, which is notoriously dangerously growing in several countries across Europe and the World, in order to avoid putting too heavy burdens over next generations' shoulders, and a paralel call to "respect Human Life from inception until natural death", (i.e. including protection of Human Embryos from risky Genetic Manipulation attempts, etc), that Young Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen (considered as close ally to Chancellor Merkel) succeeded to be elected as 1st CDU's vice-President with more than 88% votes.

- He was closely followed by Volker Bouffier from Hessen, who became 2nd vice-President with more than 85% votes, after stressing the need to ensure Migrants Socio-Cultural "Integration", and make them love their permanent host Country as their new "Homeland".

Even one of the most Experienced MEPs, EU Parliament's long-time f. President of Foreign, Affairs Committee, f. representative on EU Institutions' reform, and Rapporteur on EU Enlargement Strategy, Elmar Brok,  someone very aware of Real-Politik stakes, clearly revendicated in Karlsruhe his adherence to the "Values-based" movement, launching a call to "return to the Roots" in order to better forge "the Future" of Germany in Europe, marking a good score in the Votes for CDU's council (80%). 

To put it in a nutshell, it all gave a feeling as if Germany was ready for a Popular "Values" motivated movement to grow anew, similar to that which is emerging in the USA between 2004-2010, (including f.ex. "Tea party", "Families for Values", etc)... 

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    In her speech, Angie Merkel, a Christian Protestant, reminded from the outset that it was the late Christian Catholic Pope John Paul II who had first helped to open the Door towards Freedom and ReUnification for Germany and Europe, back in the years 1980ies.

    On Economic and Social issues, she reminded that when she had started to work as a Chancellor, Unemployed People were more than 5 Millions in Germany, while, now, their number has fallen down to just 3 Millions, after Two Millions of People found new jobs.
    
    - But, at the same time that "we are building a stronger Germany", mainly on Economy and Modern High-Tech, we don't forget our "Compass" : the "C" which is in our Name (CDU for ChristianDemocracts), with Christianism's Ethical Principles", she added, reminding also a text by Historic German former President Adenauer, dated as early as since 1946, where he stresses that CDU's Program should resulyt from Christian Ethics, wher the Human Person has an inalienable Value, which should inspire the State, the Economy and Culture.
    
    - Today, however, what is at stake is Europe's own Future, and, in the middle of this Economic but also Existential Crisis, we believe that we have the Duty to find the right Answer for the Future of our Country, Germany, and for all Europe, Chancellor Merkel stressed with lucidity, consciousness and voluntarism.
    
    Going beyond the "Technical" issues of Crisis Mechanisms, Treaties, Stabilly Pacts, ECB, IMF, etc., she focused mainly on the core issue of political Freedom and Peace for more than 50 Years in Europe, stressing also that, now, after the recent Global Crisis, EU aspires for a "New World Financial Architecture", (while Germany's closest friend, France, is currently taking over the G20 and G8 Chairmanship with President Sarkozy between November 2010 and November 2011).

    Meanwhile, we want to augment up to 10% the Funds Invested in Scientific and Technological Research, Merkel anounced, after also speaking of the importance to take also care of the Elders, of Health, Education, Employment, etc, while keeping Germany's Financial situation rock-solid.
    
    Immigrants are welcome in Germany, she added, if they "learn the Language" of the country, and "respect our Laws and Values". Otherwise there will be Sanctions, she warned, stressing the need for an elementary but succesful "Integration".  
    
    As for Germany's and Europe's Culture, it is Judeo-Christian, Merkel clearly stressed, while also welcoming the Muslims who come to live among us, but also launching a call for the protection of Christians all over the World, and for respect of Human Rights.

    The inalienable value of Human Dignity, together with the Freedom, Solidarity and Equality in Unity and the Rule of Law that we have in this 21st Century, show a road that where we can advance with optimism, the German Chancellor concluded.
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    Very long and loud applaudissements welcomed Merkel's speech, by the almost 1.000 CDU's Delegates, International Guests, etc., obliging her to return several times to salute them. She got more than 90% of votes for her new term as CDU's President. Even if this was some 3% shorter than her previous personal record, it might be a good sign, because History proves that Merkel is usually stimulated by such events to rush even more energetically towards a bigger win : F.ex., back in 2004 she had got even lesser votes : just 88%, but she immediately started to react efficiently, and "cooked" a succesful recipe by .. Winning the 2005 National Elections and becoming Chancellor...

 -  We must "bring to the People our Debates", was Chancellor Angie Merkel's concluding remark, after 2 "hot" and long, hardly fought among CDU Delegates Debates on so differend but topical issues, as Army's future relations to the People, if Military Service is totally abolished, and on a currently urgent BioEthical problem of Human Embryo's protection from possible risks by Genetic Pre-Implantation Diagnostics (See infra).

- Whatever might be the advantages of a Professional Army in efficiency, economy, etc., "I was always wondering how to ensure Army's links to the People" stressed at the beginning of a long evening's debate on "the Future of the Bundeswehr", the popular young Minister of Defence, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, (CSU, from Bavaria).

- "On June 2010, the Constitutional Court, here in Karlsruhe, changed its previous case-law on Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnostics, considering that there wasn't any explicit ban, contrary to what was believed until now. This opens dangerous loopholes against the due protection of Human Embryos, that proposals to merely put some Conditions are not enough to guarantee, because they are very difficult to implement in real practice. That's why we have drafted a Bill asking to clearly restore a full Ban, supported by Chancellor Merkel, while also respecting other opinions in certain cases", said to "EuroFora" the experienced MEP dr. Pieter Liese, EU Parliament's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Group's Spokesman on BioEthics, who tabled the text due to be voted by the German Bundestag together with CDU MP Prof. Dr. Patrick Sensburg.

It's indeed since May 2010 that Chancellor Angie Merkel, speaking, precisely, at a ceremony of Germany's Constitutional Court at nearby Karlrsuhe, on the occasion of the retirment of its experienced, long-time President, professor Papier, warned that : - "It's clear for all of us, that Cooperation and Stability in our Country is shaped by our joint obligation to respect our Constitution, and particularly its 1st Article on Human Dignity : This should guide us also in the 21st Century", as she said then.  "Human Dignity" is not only considered to be at the base of all Human Rights, but is also the main key-word frequently used to designate the protection of Human beings both from Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatments, and from dangerous Genetic a.o. Manipulations. (See "EuroFora"'s relevant publication of May 2010 : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/germanconstitutionalcourtandbioethics.html ).

Nevertheless, Karlrsruhe's Court, under a new  Chairmanship by a "Socialist" nominate (presented by the SPD Party) Professor Fosskuhle, former Rector at Freiburg's University, having scheduled to examine a Crucial BioEthical issue on June 2010, i.e. immediately after the Constitutional Court's long-standing previous President, ChristianDemocrat professor Papier's retirement (See supra), suddenly reversed itscase-law, opening other dangerous loopholes on Human Embryos' Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnostics, on the occasion of an application by a "GenTech" interest lobby..

 This new problem was hotly debated for more than 2 or 3 Hours between strongly opposed views at ChristianDemocrats' CDU's Bi-Annual Congress on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, which finally adopted a Resolution calling for a Full Ban, and not only for some vague and difficult to implement Conditions, with a Short but Clear Majority of 408 Votes against 391, (and 15 Abstentions).

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But it's also on the front of Ecologic Values, combined necessary to Socio-Economic Development, that governing CDU's Bi-Annual  Congres at Karlsruhe, welcomed by Baden-Wurtenberg's Prime Minister Stefan Mappus, strongly applauded his criticism of local "Greens"' curiously total refusal of a Climate-Friendly Project which reduces CO2 emissions', extends Green Areas, Parks and Gardens, develops Fast Speed Rail High-Tech, and gives Jobs to Tens of Thousands of People, confirming his resolution to advance forward :

- These "Greens" are "No Credible", no more, : They must "take off the Mask" : By opposing the development of Modern Railroads, they threaten to provoke more imports of "Japanese Cars" ! .  They are "betraying" their principles", Mappus denounced, even before Chancellor Merkel criticises a Party which is "always against" everything that the new German Government does, as she said, (warning against "illusions" those who wonder (even among her close friends) whether it might be useful to broker some agreements between CDU/CSU and the Greens on some points/areas).

- "Baden-Wurtenberg is currently No 1 in all Germany and Europe on High-Tech Research and Development, where we want to stay at the cutting-edge of Innovations, and has Less Unemployment than any other Region in Europe, proudly stressed the Prime Minister of the adjacent to Strasbourg border area, speaking also to Journalists at Karlsruhe, including "EuroFora"

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It's probably feeling that former "Green" Parties might be progressively abandoning their traditional Ecologic, BioEthic and other original Values at the Franco-German Heart of Europe, that, in simultaneous moves, both Chancellor Merkel and  President Sarkozy promoted 2 Young, Energetic and Faithful Politicians, placed in charge of the Ministries of Environment :

- Dr Norbert Roettgen, who became German CDU's 1st vice-President with more than 88% of Votes, and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, who was appointed, the same day, at the head of France's super-Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transports and Housing, placed at the 3rd rang among 31 new Ministers at Sunday's Governemental ressuffle.

(See also a forthcoming "EuroFora"s publication on the German "Green" Party's Annual Conference, scheduled for next Week-end at nearby Freiburg, South of Strasbourg).-

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European ChristianDemocrat Party's President, Wilfried Martens from Belgium, stressed here the "great importance of this big Infrastructal project for the European Networks" of Modern Transports, consideding that it facilitates also the famous "Magistrale" High-Speed Train line, due to link Paris, Strasbourg (France) and Stuttgart to Munich (Germany), Wienn (Austria) and Budapest, (Hungary), just before the new Hungarian ChristianDemocrat Government takes over EU's rotating Chairmanship for the period of January - June 2011.

From Budapest ("Magistrale"'s destination) could start also another High-Speed Train link towards Moscow, (that Russian Prime Minister Putin had recently tried to promote), which would even link EU's Franco-German core to the famous ...TranSiberian Rail Network, (currently preparing to be renovated probably by Russia - EU cooperations, where countries like France, etc. have already taken a key role, f.ex. with Alsthom's recent Strategic deal with a Russian Company, etc). The Huge Geo-Political stakes of such an immense EU - Russia Modern Train Network, able to reach even close to China's Pekin as well as Japan's Tokyo (thanks to the Russian TranSiberian link to nearby Vladivistok), up to USA's Alaska's Sea coasts, could obviously help realize a big European Potential, unique in the World.