Almost 10 years ago Angela Merkel said that Russia has no success, neither in politics nor in the economy. But now these words are out of date, writes Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten. According to journalists, Vladimir Putin managed to sway right and left hand in Europe, and to enlist support in the middle East. You can argue about how strong this support is, but one thing is clear: Russia has ceased to be “nothing,” the author writes.
- RIA Novosti
In 2007, for a meeting with Angela Merkel in Sochi, President Vladimir Putin came with a black Labrador. Many times he then said that he did not know that the German Chancellor is afraid of dogs, but there is no doubt that Merkel thought otherwise, writes on the pages of the Aftenposten journalist Helena Suggested. The presentation of the material leads Inotv.
“I understand why he did it — to prove that he is a man. In Russia there is nothing, no progress either in politics or in the economy. That’s all they have,” — said Merkel after the meeting.
But if it was once, nearly 10 years later, the situation has completely changed, the author notes.
Putin befriended the German right populist party, Alternative for Germany” and has maintained close ties with “Leftist” followers of the East German Communist party, continued publication.
“You can argue about how deep support, but one thing is clear: Russia has ceased to be “nothing”. Putin managed to become an indirect participant of a German policy, right in the heart of Europe,” said Heggestad.
At the same time Germany, it is not the end. “Putin as an alternative to the” recently recognized and leader of the UK independence (UKIP) Nigel Faraj.
“During the campaign around breccia Vladimir Putin as a politician behaved much more appropriately than President Barack Obama.” — quoted his words the journalist.
She recalled that the American President urged Britons to vote to stay in the EU.
While supporters of Vladimir Putin are everywhere in Europe. In addition to the above-mentioned UKIP, the author cited the example of the Hungarian party of Viktor Orban, Jobbik and the French national front.
Support Putin in Europe and left, said the journalist, calling the leader of the Greek SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras and Spanish left party Podemos, which also flirts with the big bear in the East.”
Putin has created a “bizarre triangle of support between yourself, the extreme right and left in Europe. Alternatively, the supranational EU and elitist politicians who think they know better”. And Europe all this does not end here, continued the author. Over the past year, the Russian leader met with the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu four times, and Obama once reminded Suggested.
“Putin no longer needs a black Labrador, to scare world leaders. His repeated sermons on national sovereignty and sharp criticism of the US and the EU, has resulted in more people watching in search of alternatives to the East”, — concluded the journalist.
