Soros: Crisis Not Over
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The current crisis in Europe is a continuation of the 2008 U.S. crisis rather than a separate event and it is far from over, according to billionaire investor George Soros.
 |
| Billionaire investor George Soros |
Soros made the comments in a interview with German publication Der Spiegel, where he weighed in provocatively on several topics.
Soros went on: "The method the authorities rightly chose three years ago was to substitute the credit of the state for the credit in the financial system that collapsed. After the failure of Lehman Brothers, the European financial ministers issued a declaration that no other systemically important financial institutions would be allowed to fail. That was the artificial life support; it was exactly the right decision. But then [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel stated that such support would only be granted by each EU member state individually, and not by the European Union."
But the European Union must act as one, according to Soros, by issuing its own bonds--Eurobonds--guaranteed by the Union as a whole rather than individual countries.
That poses a problem, Soros told the publication, "because each European country remains in control of its own fiscal policy, and you have to rely on the country to meet its financial obligations."
The only solution, according to Soros, is for Germany to take the lead.
"The future of the euro depends on Germany. This is the point I really want to drive home. Germany is in the driver's seat because it is the largest country in Europe with the best credit rating and a chronic surplus. In a crisis, the creditor always calls the shots. Sure, this is not a position Germany or Chancellor Merkel ever desired and they are understandably reluctant to embrace it. But the fact is that Germans are now in the position of dictating to Europe what the solution to the euro crisis is."
If the Germans allow the Euro to fall apart, it would be catastrophic, Soros warns.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar