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Banker launches another challenging controversial book with Germany as the “Euro-zone hostage”

Tuesday, May 22nd 2012 - 03:11 UTC
Full article 5 comments

Former German central banker Thilo Sarrazin, whose musings on Muslim immigrants sparked outrage in 2010 has triggered fresh controversy with a book that paints Germany as the Euro zone's hostage, forced to pay out vast sums to atone for the Holocaust. Read full article

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  • Teaboy2

    Who the hell does he think he is?

    For a start he clearly ignores the fact that other countries like britain and france have contributed more than what germany has, germany has the tighted purse strings in the whole of the EU, hell even the UK has put money into the Euro Zone bailout fund, and this muppets claiming the rest of the euro zone are holding germany to ransom. No they are not, they simply expect germany to contribute its fair share instead of germany expecting everyone else to pay the cost for propping up their beloved currency. Funny how germany always expects the UK to pay, and then try to impose a financial tax knowing full well the majority of income created would come from the UK financial sector thats equal to 75% of the EU financial sector and this guy has the nerve to complain when we say know by saying other countries are holding germany hostage, i think not. Is it not germany that imposed strict austerity measures on greece, causing the current problems in greece that now threaten their treasured euro currency? Err yes it was, so whos holding who hostage - Its germany, holding out in the hope that others will in a last ditch effort to protect their own economies, will pay to bail out the euro. So its not germany being held hostage.

    To say its a form or retribution for WW2 and the hologuast is just insulting and desrepectful to all those who lost their lives in the war and the hologaust, on both sides, as german jews were victims too. This guy to me most clearly be a nazi supporter to even have such ignorant, arrogant and disrespectful views. Off cause hes also looking to profit from his book, but i say it should be banned from sale completely, that will teach the ignorant prat a lesson, thought then he will claim hes a hostage for having his own opinion.

    May 22nd, 2012 - 09:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Idlehands

    The problem is that when there is a crisis going on people tend to gravitate towards the extremes - especially to those that seem to offer simple solutions. Unfortunately there aren't simple solutions to this crisis. The obvious answer is Eurobonds but the Germans would need to change their constitution for it to happen - and there's no appetite among voters for that.

    The underlying problem is that even German 'prosperity' as it is today is a bit of a fallacy. They lent the likes of Greece money to buy German goods. This looks good in German accounts - but only if it can be repaid - which it can't and won't.

    Those plucky Germans are beginning to look like loan sharks that like to twist arms and break legs to secure repayment.

    May 22nd, 2012 - 10:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    Is it not true, that Germany and the EU knew perfectly well, that Greece and others did not meet the criteria for joining the euro,
    And yet allowed them to join, [corruption]
    So in fact, it was and is there fault all alone is it not .

    .

    May 22nd, 2012 - 01:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Idlehands

    Greece was the worst - but probably considered too small to matter that much at the time. I think all eurozone members are equally culpable for the shambles they've created.

    May 22nd, 2012 - 02:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    bet they wished they could turn the clock back.

    some never learn.

    May 22nd, 2012 - 06:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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