Germany will not tolerate 'dumb stereotypes': Schroeder
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder cancelled his Italian holiday to make clear he would not tolerate seeing Germans mistreated, he said today.
Schroeder ditched his planned family holiday to the Marche region after Italy’s tourism minister called German tourists “hyper-nationalist” arrogant blondes.
“’When leading politicians make use of dumb stereotypes against my compatriots, one has to draw the line at some point,” Schroeder said. “I think I had to make it clear what is and what isn’t acceptable.”
“That has nothing to do with the fact that German-Italian relations must remain on course and that they are friendly. It also has nothing to do with fact that everyone who wants to travel to Italy should travel, and I wish them a good vacation,” he added.
Schroeder said had the tables been turned, he would have sacked the minister Stefano Stefani.
The Italian opposition has called Stefani’s removal, but the decision lies with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
“In my government, he wouldn’t have survived another hour as a junior minister,” Schroeder said.
“But that’s a sovereign decision for the Italian government. I have no intention of interfering.”
