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GERMAN PRESIDENT Horst Köhler warned political leaders against unnecessary squabbling ahead of September’s general elections at a ceremony in Berlin yesterday. His comments were topical given the evident tensions recently on display in the grand coalition on issues arising from the economic crisis. He said they should be guided by Germany’s leading role in Europe and how the crisis can give a new momentum to European unity.

The latest arguments between the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) concern Germany’s role in providing aid for EU states in financial difficulties. SPD strategists are reported to believe this could be an important differentiating issue between their leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel. They say Germany can reap an advantage from giving aid now in years to come, effectively by imposing conditions which would shape the future course of economic and taxation policy.