[Skybird]

Ah, no Jim, you probably are not correct there.

Originally Merkel wanted Weidmann as head for the ECB. Macron did not want that, so did several southern states that feared Weidmann's anti-Draghi positions and opposition to quantitive easing policy, and Weidmann's sympathy for raising interest rates and fight against endless inflation and debt-raising policies. Macron/France however want stronger state interventionism, stronger centralsim and rule by the self-declared "elite" (Führerprinzip), and a subjugation of ECB-fiscal policy under political command, means: under Paris'S command. France wants a collectivisation of national debts and an endless raising of debt limits. Note, the French did not agree to German reunification until Kohl accepted the early and premature introduction of the Euro and the end of the D-Mark, which Mitterand called the German atom bomb. Macron instead wanted sombody close to France'S centralist, state-socialist views, and Lagarde has in recent past turned towards Macron'S views on fiscal policies and wants stronger punishment/plundering of private savers. All that is according to France's taste - and against traditional positions of the German Bundesbank. Weidmann prevented, Lagarde in: 1:0 for France.

When it became evident in past 12-18 months that Weidmann would not make it to the ECB top seat, Merkel opportunistically shifted towards a position of "Then at least head of EU commission for germany". Weber was not her ideal candidate however, since he is also critical to some of the wishy-washy opportunistic approaches of Merkel. Merkel, who is not shy to sell out German key interests if only it helps her to keep herself in power and her influence to secure that intact. Thats why Weber was brought up by her, but why she also was very weak in support for him, and did not much to support him - something that the CSU in Germany and the conservative party in the EU parliament now are quite angry about. In the end, Merkel now is a lame duck, and the summita, already the G20 meeting, has shown how weak and free of infleunce she aleady is internationally. France on the other hand wanted to prevent Weber as well, like it wanted to prevent Weidmann for the ECB. Assuming they could not get both top seats for France'S side, at least they could also prevent Weber. And thats what Macorn did, being quite inviting to risk conflict with germany, because Merkel in macron'S early time as president sometimes lectured him and dominated him like a little school boy - for which he now has taken revenge. Merkel was comoletelys surprised by the aggressiveness and brutal cionflict-readiness of Macron over these EU issues, she was unprepared for that. Instead, to solve the impasse, France brought up the name of van der Leyen, who is the weakest name in Merkel'S cabinet, and his highly disputed and disliked in Germany, and deeply embedded in scandal, nepotism claims and claims of incompetence. Also mind you, to secure the great coalition Merkel has given all key ressorts in her canbinet to the socialists form the SPF - who had scored a soundign defeat in last generla elecitons and by Merkel were turned into the biug winner of these elections this way. Von der Leyen as defence ministress was a joke. Macron knows van der Leyen is weak, and his calculation is that he will find it easy to influence such a weak figure in his interest. The Eastern European states also calculate on van der Leyen's toothlessness, thats why she is acceptabpe for them as well. Which means they will clash with France' allience more or less directly. For Merkel, Leyen is not even second choice - she is the last name on her list with the reserve team names. France 2:0 Leyen was not Merkel's idea - Macron has brought her up.

German goals: none.

The SPD is in arms, some names demand an end of the coalition and that von der Leyen must be prevented. She is just another of these unbearably incompetent, politically super correct feminist quota females.

In Moscow, Bejing and Washington they must celebrate it with champagne if van der Leyen makes it. The EU would have made a total and complete joke of it once again, the internal conflicts are pre-programmed and will weaken the block further.

Its a huge French victory, and a most substantial defeat of Merkel on all fronts. She now just poses as a victor or better: as a "team player". But fact is that the french have played, fouled and bullied her against the wall - and that she is to weak already as if she could resist to it any longer. The Merkel era is over. I said that already after the last general elections over here.

Maybe the govenrment breaks down over here, and maybe the EU parliament rejects this mess. Not as if the parliament has left a better impression in recent days.

All participants have done their best to ruin the credit given to them by the people in last EU elections - the first elections since over 24 years that had seen a small raise in voting turnout. But the centralism and backroom deals of the Eu are back in strength, and the parliament does its best to cannibalise itself.

I know why I put not the smallest faith in the ability of the EU to reform itself. Thats like expecting a shark to turn vegetarian. Because no matter how the EU rules and methods get rewritten: its still the same kind of porked characters seizing its seats and offices, and this breed will ruin it always, always, always, no matter the rules and intentions of the institutional design. You cannot work around the kind of people the EU attracts, and the kind of people it attracts are a problem that will always corrupt it all.