Comments on: New German EU Commissioner: Günther Oettinger

By: FT.com | Brussels Blog | It’s the top economic jobs in Brussels that matter, stupid!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:32:49 +0000

[...] this explain why the German government has proposed Günther Oettinger, prime minister of the state of Baden-Württemberg, as its next commissioner? He doesn’t have obvious foreign policy credentials, so the [...]

By: Kosmopolit

Kosmopolit — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:33:21 +0000

Of course it is also good for the party as they will be able to have a candidate that has chances of winning the next elections in BW. But they could have got rid of him with a simple putsch at before the elections – so now he gets a rather influential position instead. A win-win situation, really.

At the same time I don’t think the CDU in BW was lobbying Merkel for the move – they all seemed very surprised. (but that could be wrong of course)

It is just sad that people get dumped to Brussels which comes with more responsibility than being Ministerpräsident in BW. But that is of course nothing new and can be seen as standard behavior…

You are right, the deal was not made long time ago. Apparently Oettinger got asked by Merkel last Wednesday or Thursday. My first sentence was a direct reaction when the news broke because I was very surprised… And that no name at all circulated this week made me suspicious somehow. Most of the names of the new cabinet were mentioned by the media.

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:10:41 +0000

“Although I do not think he would have been a serious problem for Merkel… he has become quite unpopular in BW and is perceived as a pretty weak Ministerpräsident! – so it is rather a good exit strategy for him!”

I’m convinced that it’s not a good exit strategy for him but for his party. He just got dumped by them. His approval as head of gov’t in Baden-Württemberg by the public has dropped significantly in the last months, he’s become indeed weak. As the controversy (you mentioned some scandals) continued, it was him time. Why else would be one of his critics (Stefan Mappus) now considered to succeed him in office?

Also you imply that this deal had been made a while ago and that it had been kept secret. Of course I don’t have no proof, but it feels bit like it, doesn’t it.

By: StepheSpillane.com

StepheSpillane.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:54:42 +0000

Shared: New German EU Commissioner: Günther Oettinger http://bit.ly/OuaS7

By: Julien Frisch

Julien Frisch — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:12:01 +0000

The German #euroblogs seem to agree… RT @kosmopolit:blogged about the new German #EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger http://ow.ly/wkpg

By: Anda Mihai

Anda Mihai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:07:43 +0000

RT @kosmopolit: blogged about the new German #EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger http://ow.ly/wkpg

By: Caroline De Cock

Caroline De Cock — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:05:44 +0000

RT @kosmopolit: blogged about the new German #EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger http://ow.ly/wkpg

By: Stevemyopinion (StephenSpillane.com)

Stevemyopinion (StephenSpillane.com) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:57:16 +0000

Twitter Comment

Shared: New German EU Commissioner: Günther Oettinger [link to post]

By: Tweets that mention New German EU Commissioner: Günther Oettinger – Kosmopolito -- Topsy.com

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:55:34 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Anda Mihai and Caroline De Cock, StepheSpillane.com. StepheSpillane.com said: Shared: New German EU Commissioner: Günther Oettinger http://bit.ly/OuaS7 [...]