Chancellor Merkel really knew beforehand why she had some resentments toward German Federal President Gauck prior to his election in February. She has been confirmed about her notion since. Despite soaring approval ratings in the public polls, Angie's stance and pushing ahead toward the "Euro financial stabililization efforts or bail-out fund" ESFS/ESM, or the new "fiscal pact" that has been in the "judicial review tube" at the German supreme court (Federal Constitutional Court "FCC" or Bundesverfassungsgericht) has gotten some distraction flak from Gauck who rather sees an information deficit in her Euro policy. Gauck was asked by the FCC to temporarily pocket the bill until the court's decision expected to be released this month. The Federal President could have signed the "fiscal pact" law approved by both parliamentary chambers with extensive majorities, only the former Socialists/Communists of the SED/PDS successor party "The Leftists - Die Linke(n)" was against it, but he chose not to check the constitutionality of the bill presented to him.
This "mega whopper bill" was allegedly too big for him to metabolize. The justices of the FCC will do now his work, almost at light-speed. This super-fast review process is unheard of in Federal Germany's constitutional history. Well, if necessary, the FCC is able to put clamps on this bill by "halting it with temporary court order", thus getting more time of reviewing this complicated heap of high-level memorandums of understanding forged into a national law with huge European impact.
The fiscal pact law will surely influence Germany's sovereignty and thus its ability of churning out an independent budget. So, limiting the budget rights of the parliament, the biggest achievement and ultimate tenet in parliamentarianism anywhere, might be easily compared to the "Enabling Act / Ermächtigungsgesetz" when the parliament, the Reichstag then, forfeited its powers to the Nazis. Well, it's strong tobacco, indeed, to make this comparision - but seen under the aspect of democracy from bottom to top, it cannot be easily explained why a non-elected EU-body, the EU Commission (EC), shall override legitimate national decisions on fiscal stability and national budgets (in the Eurozone) or sets limits and other restrictions.
The Federal President, here as amplifier of many critical voices, puts his office reputation on the political playing field. Demanding more explanation and "glasnost" from "Iron-Merkel" will certainly enhance his high approval rating by his simulating the notions and fears of the common citizens - but it also shows a certain lack of proficiency, no offense though, in dealing with a very complex European situation when fast track decision-making is needed.
In the PIGS countries, nobody of the political elites will understand the EC's fiscal bullying on their decision-making if Germany's thrust for bringing in the means for a sustainable solution is grinding to a halt by a national court.
IMO, Gauck should rather have signed the bill into law. The Nay-sayers would have had their appointment at the FCC anyway.
Why this unnecessary building-up of a new construction site?
