Economics
Merkel's Chief Critic Visits Putin as Her Poll Rating Drops
- Public backing for German government drops to 38% in new poll
- Seehofer steps into Merkel's arena by meeting Putin in Moscow
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Chancellor Angela Merkel’s main antagonist in Germany’s refugee crisis expanded his challenge of her policies by questioning sanctions against Russia as public support for Merkel’s government continues to slide.
Treading on Merkel’s foreign-policy turf, Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer was welcomed by President Vladimir Putin during a two-day visit to Moscow ending Thursday. While Seehofer cited the need for Russian cooperation in global crises as a reason to end economic sanctions as soon as possible, Merkel said last week that Putin hasn’t fulfilled the conditions for lifting the measures imposed after Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.