GERMANY:CHANCELLOR ANGELA Merkel has been attacked by a political ally as a Machiavellian leader interested only in retaining her grip on power.
Josef Schlarmann, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) board, has accused Dr Merkel of abandoning her reform promises, disillusioning a majority of party voters and risking another poor general election result next year.
"As an East German, we all thought that someone from the outside would have very clear view of the weaknesses of the old federal republic that had become fat and lazy over the years," said Mr Schlarmann, head of the CDU small and medium sized business committee, to Der Spiegel magazine. "But she's become a politician interested only in retaining power. That is perfectly legitimate, but without political concepts it's pure Machiavelli."
Asked if he thought Dr Merkel was a good leader, he replied: "Judged by her tactical skill, Angela Merkel is certainly a clever chancellor. But when I look at the results of her work, then it's extremely difficult to give it the attribute 'good'. The 2005 programme is on the scrap heap."
Mr Schlarmann is the first senior CDU politician to openly criticise Dr Merkel since the disastrous 2005 general election left the party with just 35 per cent of the vote, one of its worst results.
Dr Merkel suppressed any serious election postmortem to enter a grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD). Despite its huge parliamentary majority, the government's reform potential has been hobbled by opposing political ideologies and public opposition to further cuts.
Initial reforms - abolishing homebuilder grants and a VAT hike - have given way to expensive giveaways: a new parents' allowance, increased dole payments and, last week, an unexpected pension increase costing €10 billion.
Upcoming budget negotiations will be crucial for Dr Merkel's political profile. Hopes to balance the federal budget are under threat from ministry spending requests more than €7 billion over budget.
"In the budget negotiations Dr Merkel has to reconcile her promises of good deeds with her promises of budget consolidation," noted Der Spiegel magazine.
"Until now she's decided for good deeds."