On politics, Donges first explains that Merkel must insist on conditionality because Germany has a large number of bankrupt municipalities, and social services are being cut affecting the citizens, who cannot then understand that Germany is negotiating the size of large bailouts of other countries. He then says Merkel's hard image abroad 'doesn't fly' in Germany where people know 'she always gives in' (as in last June's summit where she was 'blackmailed by Hollande, Monti, and Rajoy'). Finally, in relation with the 'fiscal pact' or 'golden rule' Donges says he prefers the behaviour of Zapatero and Rajoy, who religiously implement agreements reached at the European level, to that of France.

On cuts to the social safety net, Donges argues that cuts to support for people with dependents "wouldn't have been done in Germany", but that he would have preferred (as Germany has done) to reduce the length of time but not the amount of unemployment subsidies which he calls "a perverse incentive" to not seek work until the subsidy runs out. This leads to a discussion of German reforms, and Donges concludes that the choice is between precarious employment and outright unemployment, and that there is no alternative.

People on twitter reacted to dogwhistles such as when he said men study cars in detail before buying them, like women study washing mashines. Also when he referred to people affected by social cuts as "collateral damage" "as in a war" they had no part in initiating.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS