'I've nothing to hide': Angela Merkel shrugs off new book's claims that she was propaganda secretary in Communist East Germany
- New book revives questions over Merkel's links to Communism in her youth
- Claims nothing to hide but says she's never been asked about certain things
- In 2010 she admitted she still uses East German detergent and hoards food
By
Matt Blake
|
Chancellor Angela
Merkel has shrugged aside a book that suggests she may have been closer
to East Germany's communist system than previously thought, saying she's
never hidden anything.
The
58-year-old Merkel grew up in East Germany and entered politics as
communism crumbled in 1989. It's long been known that, like many, she
joined the communist youth organization. She has said she 'politically
lived an assimilated life'
A
book appearing this week revives questions about whether Merkel was a
propaganda secretary for the youth organization, which she denies, and
says she was an active labor union official.
Comrade Angela: Angela Merkel, 58, grew up in
East Germany and entered politics as communism crumbled in 1989 and it's
long been known that, like many, she joined the communist youth
organization
Merkel said at an event late on
Sunday that she had never hidden anything about her life in East
Germany, though acknowledged some things may emerge 'because no one has
ever asked me about them.'
Indeed, in
2010, she admitted to a German magazine that she still does her laundry
with an East German liquid detergent, prepares East German Soljanka soup
- made with sausages and pickle juice - and can't fight the urge to
stockpile at the supermarket.
With David Cameron and Irish Taoiseach Enda
Kenny: Merkel said at an event late on Sunday that she had never hidden
anything about her life in East Germany, though acknowledged some things
may emerge 'because no one has ever asked me about them'
Old habits: In 2010, Merkel admitted that she still does her laundry with an East German liquid
detergent, prepares East German Soljanka soup and can't fight the urge to stockpile at the supermarket
'Sometimes I can't stop myself from
buying things just because I see them - even when I don't really need
them,' Merkel told SuperIllu ahead of celebrations for the 20th
anniversary of unification.
'This
inclination to hoard is deeply ingrained in me, because in the past, in
times of scarcity, you took what you could get,' Merkel said, referring
to life under communism.
Germany
was divided into communist East Germany and capitalist West Germany
following the defeat of the Nazis in World War II. The eastern German
Democratic Republic formally joined the western Federal Republic of
Germany on Oct. 3, 1990, after months of peaceful protests brought down
the East German system.
A night to remember: Berliners
from the east and west celebrate on November 11 1989 - the day the
Berlin Wall was knocked down, bringing an end to Communism in Germany
Great divide: Youngsters take a
peek over the wall into east Germany in 1989, left, and East German
guards watch as West Germans bring down parts of the wall in the same
year
Fall of the wall: But while
boundaries have blurred over time, many 'Ossis' and 'Wessis' - the
nicknames for those born and raised in the east and west - still seem to
stick to old mindsets and keep to themselves
But while
boundaries have blurred over time, many 'Ossis' and 'Wessis' - the
nicknames for those born and raised in the east and west - still seem to
stick to old mindsets and keep to themselves.
Ossis
are considered more insular, cherishing the few East German products
that have survived the unification - like Rotkaeppchen sparkling wine or
Spreewald pickles - and taking holidays at their Russian-style dachas
in the countryside.
West Germans, on the other hand, are seen as more outward-looking, gravitating toward new trends in music, art or literature.
Despite all the efforts to adjust the standard of living, East Germans are still underrepresented in many parts of society.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2323768/Angela-Merkel-shrugs-new-books-claims-propaganda-secretary-Communist-East-Germany.html#ixzz2gL2G5Sha
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