Most pundits had written off the Red-Green coalition led by then chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. High unemployment, slowed growth, scandals in state finances and controversies over new taxes and national insurance all pointed to the impending downfall of the chancellor.
But within a matter of weeks, headlines read ”Flood crisis lifts Schroeder from election doldrums”, ”Flood offers Schroeder poll boosts” and ”Schroeder seizes on flood as lifebelt”.
The media said he took on the role of caring statesman and national saviour. The Daily Telegraph said, ”Mr Schroeder has seemed to strike the right blend of grave concern, reassurance and decisive action.”
All Germans were called on to unite and save ”homes, lives and national heritage”.
September 2002: Mr Schroeder won another four-year term.
This was an example of opportunity in crisis. This was an opportunity to unite the country in the face of disaster, and to reap the political gains that come with it. Mr Schroeder capitalised on it very successfully.
Thailand, November 2011.
The finger-pointing and headline-stealing by the Pheu Thai-led national government and the Democrat-controlled Bangkok Metropolitan Administration are an embarrassment. The destructive rumours spread by supporters of both camps are a travesty.
This applies especially to the rumours that the flood was instigated purposefully and the situation made worse intentionally to discredit and overthrow the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. This may seem absurd to some, but it is entirely believable to others blinded by political agenda.
This and other strong allegations might even be true, but they should be tested using evidence, not political sentiment.
The motives of both political camps in Thailand are three-fold.
Pheu Thai must do whatever it takes to keep hold of power and the Democrats must do whatever it takes to take back power, or at least to make sure they win the next Bangkok governor elections. These are the natural instincts of any agent of politics.
The second motive for both parties then is to undermine and discredit opponents as much as possible. This is called dirty politics, but no one has ever said that Thailand’s politics is wholly clean or that any country’s politics is for that matter.
The last motive for both parties is a desire to save lives and livelihoods and to stop this flood crisis.
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