The country of 'no'

摘要

THE message was unequivocal. On October 26th the Bundestag, the main chamber of Germany's legislature, voted overwhelmingly to give more firepower to the European Financial Stability Facility (efsf), which bails out weak euro-zone countries. Two of the three opposition parties joined the government's motion, which passed with 503 votes in favour and 89 against. The governing coalition-consisting of the Christian Democratic Union (cdu), its Bavarian wing, the Christian Social Union (csu), and the Free Democratic Party (FDp)-contained a rebellion within its ranks. Their votes alone would have provided a majority. "Germany, regardless of political party, will protect the work of European unity," vowed the chancellor, Angela Merkel, just before the vote. When she met her fellow European leaders in Brussels later that day she had the politicians, if not all the voters, behind her. But their "yes" encased a collection of "nos": no to any increase in German guarantees for the efsf beyond the €211 billion ($292 billion) approved in September; no to Eurobonds, which could be issued by any euro member but would be underwritten by all; and no to further financing of stricken countries by the European Central Bank. Collectively these rej ections veto a package bold enough to end the crisis. Why are the Germans so stubborn?