German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle talks to SPIEGEL about new government plans to tackle the economic crisis, Obama's Afghanistan strategy and his own contribution to German society's acceptance of homosexuality. SPIEGEL: Mr. Westerwelle, if things had turned out slightly differently, we would have been coming to meet you at the Finance Ministry. We always thought that Guido Westerwelle would have to become finance minister, because of his focus on economic issues. And now we're meeting with you here at the Foreign Ministry. How could that happen? Guido Westerwelle: The Free Democratic Party has a long tradition in foreign policy. The periods when the liberals were in charge of foreign policy have always been great ones in our history. SPIEGEL: Perhaps, but you personally were always interested in other issues. Westerwelle: My passion and my commitment to foreign policy may not have been visible to you while we were in the opposition. But both were very much present.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle talks to SPIEGEL about new government plans to tackle the economic crisis, Obama's Afghanistan strategy and his own contribution to German society's acceptance of homosexuality.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Westerwelle, if things had turned out slightly differently, we would have been coming to meet you at the Finance Ministry. We always thought that Guido Westerwelle would have to become finance minister, because of his focus on economic issues. And now we're meeting with you here at the Foreign Ministry. How could that happen?
Guido Westerwelle: The Free Democratic Party has a long tradition in foreign policy. The periods when the liberals were in charge of foreign policy have always been great ones in our history.
SPIEGEL: Perhaps, but you personally were always interested in other issues.
Westerwelle: My passion and my commitment to foreign policy may not have been visible to you while we were in the opposition. But both were very much present.
Westerwelle: Let me respond to that by quoting Winston Churchill:
Pace, Mr. BBC reporter; said W's coacher.
SPIEGEL: You will be driving government debt to a remarkable postwar record with your sensitivity. Westerwelle: Growth-oriented policies don't jeopardize government finances, but makes them healthier. We've had enough of faint-hearted politics. SPIEGEL: And if it goes wrong, our children and grandchildren will be burdened with the mountains of debt you have taken on. That isn't bold, it's irresponsible. Westerwelle: The opposite is true: If we don't emerge from the recession quickly enough, we won't just have problems with government finances. We'll also have social upheaval of the sort that we haven't seen in this country yet. The middle class will collapse, and there will be nothing left but rich and poor.
SPIEGEL: You will be driving government debt to a remarkable postwar record with your sensitivity.
Westerwelle: Growth-oriented policies don't jeopardize government finances, but makes them healthier. We've had enough of faint-hearted politics.
SPIEGEL: And if it goes wrong, our children and grandchildren will be burdened with the mountains of debt you have taken on. That isn't bold, it's irresponsible.
Westerwelle: The opposite is true: If we don't emerge from the recession quickly enough, we won't just have problems with government finances. We'll also have social upheaval of the sort that we haven't seen in this country yet. The middle class will collapse, and there will be nothing left but rich and poor.
Ah, nice: the welfare state will be destroyed if we don't get to destroy the welfare state...
SPIEGEL: Would you care to reveal to us how you intend to pay for your tax cuts? Westerwelle: First, through a consistent growth policy which will lead to more jobs and, as a result, higher tax revenues. And second, by reviewing the feasibility of all spending measures in future budget discussions. SPIEGEL: For example? Westerwelle: Anyone who has ever participated in budget negotiations knows that entire walls of binders have to be combed through to search for individual expenditures. We can't do that in a SPIEGEL interview. SPIEGEL: Well, do you at least have an idea of the sums that will be needed? Westerwelle: Yes, but I'm certainly not going to mention any numbers publicly. The fight against wasteful government spending will be one of the trademarks of the new centrist coalition. We agreed to golden rules on consolidation in the coalition agreement.
SPIEGEL: Would you care to reveal to us how you intend to pay for your tax cuts?
Westerwelle: First, through a consistent growth policy which will lead to more jobs and, as a result, higher tax revenues. And second, by reviewing the feasibility of all spending measures in future budget discussions.
SPIEGEL: For example?
Westerwelle: Anyone who has ever participated in budget negotiations knows that entire walls of binders have to be combed through to search for individual expenditures. We can't do that in a SPIEGEL interview.
SPIEGEL: Well, do you at least have an idea of the sums that will be needed?
Westerwelle: Yes, but I'm certainly not going to mention any numbers publicly. The fight against wasteful government spending will be one of the trademarks of the new centrist coalition. We agreed to golden rules on consolidation in the coalition agreement.
This, of course, is the most important issue, and he keeps tight like an iron wall. Of course he won't mention whose budget he wants to cut, at least until after the Northrhine-Westphalia elections. (With some more cynism: he would surely want to keep his proposals from "my friend Horst" until the last minute, too, to keep the CSU from helping some lobbies to mobilise.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
