Public and published opinion in Germany: obstacles for a Social Europe?

Wolfgang Schäuble, 2013. Demotix/Gonçalo Silva. All rights reserved.For many people in southern Europe and in France it seems absolutely clear: the German public opinion is imperturbably convinced of Angela Merkel and her (neo-liberal) austerity policy. Even Angela Merkel herself seems convinced that she can only win elections as long as the people believe that the euro crisis is ‘managed well’ and will not cost them anything.

With reference to public opinion in Germany, Merkel was able to reject all calls for a stronger European union: Eurobonds, a European ‘Marshall program’ and a stronger European governance. All of which would not be possible against the will of the German people or the German constitutional court. The only way to convince the German people to save Europe is to apply a strict austerity program and a neo-liberal reform agenda.

So, is German public opinion the obstacle for a stronger, supranational and more social Europe? There are some flaws and paradoxes in this logic. Despite all horror scenarios regarding the euro crisis, despite the billions of euros spent on rescue programs and despite the polemics about lazy Greeks, up until today populist movements did not win even one seat in the German parliament.