Helmut Schmidt
FameRank: 4

"Helmut Heinrich Waldemar Schmidt" is a German Social Democratic Party of Germany/Social Democratic (SPD) politician who served as Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany/Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. Prior to becoming Chancellor, he had served as Minister of Defence (1969–72). As Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)/Minister of Finance (1972 to 1974), he gained credit for financial policies that consolidated the Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle), giving Germany the most stable currency and economic position in the world. He had also served briefly as Minister of Economics and as acting Foreign Minister. As Chancellor, he focused on international affairs, seeking "political unification of Europe in partnership with the United States". He was an energetic diplomat who sought European co-operation and international economic co-ordination. He was re-elected chancellor in 1976 and 1980, but his coalition fell apart in 1982 with the switch by his coalition allies, the Free Democratic Party (Germany)/Free Democratic Party. He retired from Parliament in 1987, after clashing with the SPD's left wing, who opposed him on defence and economic issues. In 1986 he was a leading proponent of Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union/European monetary union and a European Central Bank/European central bank.

More Helmut Schmidt on Wikipedia.

A grand coalition would be one of the worst outcomes for our country, because there would be no possibility to change what has to be changed, to get a ticket for reform.

Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take small steps.

I am confident that China will continue its prudent and cautious exchange-rate-policy.

On this point I am of exactly the same mind as Ms Merkel.

It is as well correct to state that 'against the background ofthe policy of peaceful reunification PRC has not renounced the use of force.' It is as well correct to state that 'China's ability toproject conventional military power beyond its periphery remains limited,'.

After having known all the top Chinese statesmen from Mao Zedong onwards, I am quite confident that also the present leadership is convinced of this necessity.

I have absolutely the same opinion on this as Frau Merkel.

Some parts and some elements of the Pentagon Report are correct. For instance it is correct to state that the PRC (the People's Republic of China) appears focused on preventing Taiwan's independence and also to underline this statement by quoting the 'Anti-Secession Law of March 2005.