Interview: German conservative has ‘problems’ with Palin

Although he admits that he is closer to the US Republicans as a German Christian Democrat, MEP Elmar Brok told EURACTIV that in the upcoming elections he had “a problem with the Republican ticket” due to the controversial personality of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Barack Obama could more easily stand for a new beginning in transatlantic relations, says Brok, who is also a member of both the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee and its delegation for relations with the United States. 

“The United States and the West are weaker now than eight years ago. And that’s a fact,” said Brok. “I hope that after the last eight years there is a new beginning in the transatlantic relationship. And that we can together give more credibility to the West. This credibility has partly been destroyed in recent years,” he says. 

The German MEP says he is “quite critical” of US President George W. Bush, because Bush never had a real partnership with Europe and thought “one could lead and the others had to follow”. 

Brok say he hopes the G20 summit, to take place in Washington on 15 November following pressure from the French EU Presidency (EURACTIV 27/10/08), will produce real results. He says because “we are all in a big mess and in a big crisis,” the G20 are compelled to agree on new common rules of financial regulation. 

The German MEP argues that the financial crisis has made societies everywhere in Europe understand the value of unity and realise that “Europe is needed”. Even in Germany, where many used to oppose the euro and wanted to keep the Deutschmark, people “now see it differently,” he explains. 

Brok rejects suggestions that the Czech EU Presidency needs to be supported by a bigger country such as France (EURACTIV 27/10/08), but admits that Prague must cooperate in the framework of the “trio of presidencies” (EURACTIV 03/09/08) and agree on a “division of labour” involving the EU Council and the Commission.

Regarding recent allegations that Declan Ganley, one of the main sponsors of the ‘no’ campaign against the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, may have been supported by the US military and neo-conservative circles in the US with an interest in weakening Europe (EURACTIV 26/09/08), Brok said he did not believe that was the policy of the US government, but added: “For sure, Mr. Ganley has good relations to certain circles in the US”. 

Brok said the investigations about alleged irregularities in the financing of the Irish ‘no’ campaign had to be carried out by the Irish authorities. 

To read the interview in full, please click here.

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