DW-WORLD: How is Germany doing in your opinion?

Derek Scally: Badly. But it's difficult to know how much of this is in the heads of people and how much this is in the economy, say. Yes, there is a demographic problem, there are high taxes, there's unemployment. But other countries also have these problems. There seems to be this "Katastrophalismus" -- the view that all is bad and getting worse. The country does have huge strengths but people don't see this. They are constantly talking "down" the country and look to politicians to solve everything, but don't see they have to pull themselves up.

I think Merkel has mentioned this strength and said that it's up to people themselves to bring it out. Schröder in contrast blames external factors for the bad situation. The political system makes this problem worse: the structure of the political system means that a course of action once agreed on cannot be pushed through without constantly checking back with what the Bundesrat (the upper house representing the federal states' interests) or one's own political party is saying. Merkel and Schröder both have this problem with their respective parties. Strength on the part of those in charge is apparently considered dangerous.

What needs to happen to speed up the country's recovery?

Psychologically a change of government will give an important new impulse. But a new government will be messing around and take one or two years to get their bearings. On the other hand, if Schröder stayed in power, he would benefit from an economy that is picking up now anyway.

Whether the parties will get far with their proposals remains to be seen. The Social Democrats' program is a classic case of promising the sun, moon and the stars -- a "deckchair on the Titanic" sort of program. Meanwhile the tax proposals by the Christian Democratic opposition have been shut down by friendly fire already.

Gerhard Schröder or Angela Merkel? Who is your personal choice for chancellor? Why?

I don't see the huge problem with Schröder. He's a good representative and no huge embarrassment as other leaders, but he's a showman. Merkel gives people a feeling that she knows what things are about and what needs to be done.

In the end, though, it doesn't come down to personality alone. German politics is so consensual -- everything a leader comes up with has to be checked with the party. And so, I also don't see why people complain so much about Schröder. I think it's really because with a strong personality it's easier to threaten your party. Merkel doesn't have the personality to do that. Once the novelty of a Frau Bundeskanzler (Madam Chancellor) has worn off, this will gnaw away at her throne.

What do you like about Germany?

It's a country with an incredible strength economically and socially. In Ireland we wouldn't mind having Germany's "problems." Ireland is much more unequal than Germany is possibly becoming now. It's amazing what people in Germany can expect when they are being laid off.

What do you dislike about Germany?

The constant moaning. When you look at products, services, exports Germany no longer occupies a number one position internationally. But that's not because the country has been doing worse but rather because in a globalized world, no one is number one any more. In my opinion, the gloom and doom is also driven by the media. Just think of all the surveys, polls and programs on how depressed the nation is. It was interesting to see that the visit of the pope had an uplifting effect on the people when he addressed his Vaterland in its own language. If anyone can break the gloomy mood in Germany it seems it is the pope.