Merkel runs gauntlet of Nazi taunts

Damien McElroy October 10, 2012

Vilification ... A protester displays a banner depicting Greek political leaders and Mrs Merkel as Nazis. Photo: Bloomberg

Angela Merkel has told Greece the worst of its financial crisis is over, but the German chancellor's brief trip provoked violent clashes and mayhem on the streets of Athens.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered at the barricades of a massive police operation to protect Mrs Merkel as she met Greek leaders who are searching for a new package of budget cuts to secure bail-out funds largely underwritten by the German taxpayer.

Mrs Merkel had arrived in Athens with the state plane flying the flags of Greece and Germany.

Tension ... Angela Merkel and the Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, confer after their meeting in Athens. Photo: Getty Images

The gesture set a tone of humility from the German camp, but failed to make a dent in the wave of anger directed at the politician blamed for pushing Greece ever deeper into depression.

The message sent to Mrs Merkel from the streets was unremittingly bleak. Banners read: "Angela, save the world, kill yourself" and "Out with the Fourth Reich".

A group of dustmen dressed in Nazi uniforms and waving swastika flags paraded through Syntagma Square in a jeep. The convoy got as close to parliament as riot police would allow.

Fury ... Police try to disperse crowds during violent protests against Mrs Merkel's visit. Photo: Reuters

One commentator even noted that Mrs Merkel's green jacket was the same one she had worn on the night that Germany beat Greece in the quarter-final of Euro 2012 in June.

Greece's president, Karolos Papoulias, a renowned figure in the resistance to Nazi occupation, demanded consideration of the country's modern calamities, not historical grievances.

"We have almost exhausted our endurance. We must think of measures that will bring hope, particularly growth measures," he said. Speaking after talks with the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras, Mrs Merkel said she wanted to develop a deeper understanding of Greek conditions. "I am not a teacher to give lessons. I'm here to be informed, I know that changes are difficult to be implemented," she said.

The only encouragement she could offer was a vague claim that the economy had finally hit the bottom. "I have come here today in full knowledge that the period Greece is living through right now is an extremely difficult one for the Greeks and many people are suffering," she said.

"Precisely for that reason I want to say that much of the path is already behind us. We are dealing with problems that have arisen in part over decades, and these problems can't be solved with one bang, with one measure," she said. "It will be a longer path but I believe that we will see light at the end of the tunnel."

Telegraph, London

Merkel runs gauntlet of Nazi taunts