'Eurozone summit - despair and backbiting in the corridors of power'
by Bruno Waterfield, Brussels
"Interpersonal relations between eurozone leaders have hit an all-time low, reflecting
sharp disagreements between Germany and France over using the ECB to bailout
the euro and presenting an additional obstacle to finding a "grand solution" to Europe's
debt crisis.
Nicolas Sarkozy's "two faced" personality has been cited as a major factor in his dysfunctional
relationship with Angela Merkel.
During one-to-one, face-to-face meetings with the German Chancellor, the French President
is said to be "syrupy", "ladling on the charm", but when her back is turned or she
leaves the room, Mr Sarkozy changes tack.
Chancellor Merkel is said to have been deeply wounded by one anecdote that Mr Sarkozy
is said to have told another head of government about her.
"She says she is on a diet and then helps herself to a second helping of cheese,"
the French president allegedly said after a dinner meeting with Mrs Merkel.
Such cattiness will not have been forgotten by Mrs Merkel when she sat down to dine
with Mr Sarkozy last night in an encounter billed as a "make or break" moment to save
the euro by patching up Franco-German relations.
A row between the pair in Frankfurt on Wednesday overshadowed leaving-do celebrations
to mark the end of Jean-Claude Trichet's nine years as the head of the ECB.
"Their shouting could be heard down the corridor in the concert hall where an orchestra
was about to play the EU's anthem, Ode to Joy," said an incredulous EU official."
etc, etc, etc: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...and-backbiting-in-the-corridors-of-power.html
and: "Nicolas Sarkozy tells David Cameron: shut up over the euro"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/23/cameron-sarkozy-euro-debt-crisis?newsfeed=true
(and then there's: "Cameron Faces EU Referendum Rebellion")
http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16094249
by Bruno Waterfield, Brussels
"Interpersonal relations between eurozone leaders have hit an all-time low, reflecting
sharp disagreements between Germany and France over using the ECB to bailout
the euro and presenting an additional obstacle to finding a "grand solution" to Europe's
debt crisis.
Nicolas Sarkozy's "two faced" personality has been cited as a major factor in his dysfunctional
relationship with Angela Merkel.
During one-to-one, face-to-face meetings with the German Chancellor, the French President
is said to be "syrupy", "ladling on the charm", but when her back is turned or she
leaves the room, Mr Sarkozy changes tack.
Chancellor Merkel is said to have been deeply wounded by one anecdote that Mr Sarkozy
is said to have told another head of government about her.
"She says she is on a diet and then helps herself to a second helping of cheese,"
the French president allegedly said after a dinner meeting with Mrs Merkel.
Such cattiness will not have been forgotten by Mrs Merkel when she sat down to dine
with Mr Sarkozy last night in an encounter billed as a "make or break" moment to save
the euro by patching up Franco-German relations.
A row between the pair in Frankfurt on Wednesday overshadowed leaving-do celebrations
to mark the end of Jean-Claude Trichet's nine years as the head of the ECB.
"Their shouting could be heard down the corridor in the concert hall where an orchestra
was about to play the EU's anthem, Ode to Joy," said an incredulous EU official."
etc, etc, etc: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...and-backbiting-in-the-corridors-of-power.html
and: "Nicolas Sarkozy tells David Cameron: shut up over the euro"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/23/cameron-sarkozy-euro-debt-crisis?newsfeed=true
(and then there's: "Cameron Faces EU Referendum Rebellion")
http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16094249