Favourite European Leader?

[minionofmidas]

Of those, Zapatero I guess.
Guy Verhofstadt should definitely be on the list!
Oh, and not to forget Simeon Sakskoburggotski of Bulgaria.

[minionofmidas]

Schröder- Dead Man Walking

Just cos Germans don't like doesnt mean I can't-he is doing what he needs to do for Germany's sake.

Recent news form Germany suggests his position has improved dramatically!

Kodratos is living in America...news take six months to cross the ocean. Yeah, polls are back to normal, and have been for two months or so. A slight opposition lead at the dead middle of the term, which translates into German political "laws" as: The government can start to plan securely for the next six years.

[minionofmidas]

Certainly Kohn was NOT charismatic nor particularly articulate in public, but he did perform very well at integrating the two Germanies (a hurculean task) with a great deal of dexterity and effectiveness.

He also showed a great deal of dexerity and effectiveness when it came to lining his own pockets

Yer both wrong...
Kohl was an utter failure at integrating the two Germanies (indeed a herculean task - I'm not sure if it can ever be fully done), mostly because he never recognized the need for it.
He did line his pockets, but he never spent it on himself. He lavished it all on his own power base within the CDU.

[minionofmidas]

He did line his pockets, but he never spent it on himself. He lavished it all on his own power base within the CDU.

Buying favours and stuff?

It went more like, some illicit money to campaign to this state party here, this constituency party there...but of course he was expecting, and got, fealty as a reward.

[minionofmidas]

He did line his pockets, but he never spent it on himself. He lavished it all on his own power base within the CDU.

Buying favours and stuff?

It went more like, some illicit money to campaign to this state party here, this constituency party there...but of course he was expecting, and got, fealty as a reward.

Who did he think he was? "Holy Roman" Emperor?

Defending Germany against the Communists, and defending the CDU against its own stupidity (they would have spent the money where it wasn't needed if they'd known it existed! Horror of horrors!) by circumventing the official channels.