Battling on, for Germany and for Europe
Helmut Kohl’s zeal for European integration, and for the single currency, has made him promise to ride again in Germany’s general election next year. But there is no certainty he will win—or that the currency will arrive on time
THOSE who feared that Europe's plan for a single currency might fall apart without Helmut Kohl can heave a sigh of relief, albeit a brief one. The chancellor's long-awaited decision to run for re-election comes laden with frankincense and myrrh. Unemployment in Germany has obligingly fallen. Moribund talks between government and opposition over how to revamp the economy have suddenly come back to life. Mr Kohl's authority, wounded of late, seems miraculously to have recovered. And some of the mist surrounding the euro seems to have lifted, leaving—in the eyes of enthusiasts—a nice clearing for the new currency to arrive on time with a recommitted Mr Kohl behind it.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Battling on, for Germany and for Europe”
From the April 12th 1997 edition
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