Edmund Stoiber: Savior of German Unity?

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Edmund Stoiber: Savior of German Unity?

Gripped by an election crisis, Germany needs a savior. Will it be the Bavarian prime minister?

On October 3, Germans celebrate the reunification of the country after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, known as the Day of German Unity. Had the recent federal elections gone smoothly, participants might celebrate wholeheartedly.

But nobody won the election. Neither Chancellor Gerhard Schröder nor challenger Angela Merkel received enough votes to form the majority in parliament required for a German government. Someone needs to step up and solve the crisis—but who?

For years, the Trumpet has told readers to watch the head of the Christian Social Union (csu), Bavarian Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber. Last week, German newspapers joined us in that analysis, saying there are “indications that the csu head is secretly hoping to snag the chancellorship” (Financial Times Deutschland).

Germany’s paper of record, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, thinks Stoiber would make a good chancellor because he knows how to deal with Social Democrats and, as a veteran politician, might not cling to power.

Stoiber has confirmed that he will move to Berlin if a stable government with a sensible plan is formed.

Die Welt called Stoiber the “Bavarian caesar” and asked if he really would “come to Rome.”

But who is Edmund Stoiber, and more to the point, why would we identify him as the man to watch when it appears more likely that either Angela Merkel or Gerhard Schröder will be the next chancellor?

A Man With Vision

Stoiber is the political successor to Franz Josef Strauss, a former prime minister of Bavaria and author of The Grand Design: A European Solution to German Reunification. The central idea of Strauss’s vision for Germany was “a massive drive to achieve, step by step, a European political federation.” Today (as we detailed in the January 2004 Trumpet), most of Strauss’s plans for both Germany and Europe have been realized; but he never did get to serve as German chancellor. So far, neither has Stoiber, despite a nearly successful bid for the office in 2002.

During that election, Stoiber expressed concern that “All he [Schröder] wants is power—Schröder has no vision for Germany” (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Feb. 13, 2002). Stoiber, by contrast, has a powerful vision for both Germany and all of Europe, the primary ideas of which are rooted in the philosophy of Franz Joseph Strauss.

Stoiber deeply believes, as did Strauss, that the economic and political union of the EU must be strong—in large part as a counterbalance to the U.S.

Stoiber also very much supports a strong European military: “There is currently a gross imbalance between the economic and foreign policy weight of Europe,” he said in a June 2002 speech. “That can be seen—along with many other things—in the minor way in which Europe has been able to influence the Middle East conflict for example. Europe must assume greater responsibility for peace, freedom, law and justice in the world—politically in the first instance, but also militarily within a UN, nato and EU framework if necessary.”

Stoiber is eager to strengthen Europe.

A Strong Man Rising

Over three decades ago, Plain Truth editor in chief Herbert W. Armstrong wrote, “The world appears bereft of ‘great men.’ But a world-recognized ‘Strong Man’ in all probability will now very soon appear. … There will be 10 [kings], ruling 10 nations or groups of nations in the area of the once-great Holy Roman Empire. But there will be one super-king over the 10” (Plain Truth, May 1969).

Concerning that super-king, Mr. Armstrong wrote that Europe was “waiting for the confidence-inspiring leader—an international all-European Hitler, and it is on the way. That man is there somewhere” (ibid., November/December 1954).

Mr. Armstrong was correct, though conditions weren’t quite ready for such a “strong man” to emerge then. The stage most assuredly is set for his appearance today. That man is out there somewhere. Mr. Armstrong felt Franz Josef Strauss might be that leader. Though Mr. Strauss has since passed, his political dreams have not. And Strauss’s successor is ready to spread that vision to the world.

Daniel 11:21—and a companion mention in Daniel 8:23 of a “king of fierce countenance”—describes a man who will shortly come to power in Europe. We strongly believe, for several reasons, that this man will be Edmund Stoiber. Notice how he comes to power: “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.”

If anyone ever had the opportunity to gain the leadership of Germany by flattery rather than votes, Edmund Stoiber has it now—and German newspapers know it.

Continue to watch Edmund Stoiber. No matter who the strong man in Daniel’s prophecies is, we know he will be in office soon; he is on the world stage now.