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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">“Einen
Neuen Anfang”<BR>Federal Republic of Germany<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Chancellor
Lukas Lehmann<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">March
1<SUP>st</SUP>, 2013<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">--------------------------<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face="Courier New">There
had been an interesting change in German politics recently; a change of
government, and, as many anticipated a change of direction. The corridors of
power often bowed to surprising twists, and the German electorate was no
different to the rest of the world when it came to delivering such a twist. The
Christian Democratic Union, once a towering political party over Germany was
left in full retreat, licking its wounds from over estimating what the German
people wanted: they were scared, paranoid, unhappy with feeling isolated in
their own country. They had swung the pendulum too far in the other direction,
by tightening terrorism laws, closing borders and pulling back from the
EU.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">As
a result, the German people ousted the CDU in early February 2013. They were, as
far as the ‘New’ Social Democratic Party was concerned, out of touch and now,
out of government. Germany was to be governed by a centrist government; one with
a bias that would reverse the CDU’s bordering far right, paranoid, controlling
decisions. Little was known however of its new leader, a relatively unknown
politician. Charismatic and youthful he secured votes, but people did not always
fully understand whom they were voting for. A stylish politician who behaved
well in public, the new German Chancellor was unknown to the German electorate
and to the world stage up until April last year. He was dubbed authoritative,
demanding and slick. Reportedly, a strong willed individual, he enjoyed
exercising complete control in influencing policy
decisions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">This
man now occupied the most important position in the German
Government.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">*<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">[EVENING
OF MARCH 1<SUP>st</SUP>]<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">[GERMAN
GOVERNMENT AIRPLANE]<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
Harz Mountains from a high altitude was a very consoling, breath taking sight,
particularly when flying at high speeds. It was one of the many picturesque
German landscapes to the south of the country, and was, quite simply, beautiful.
The aircraft carrying the newly elected Chancellor of Germany swept over the
clouds, having taken off from Bonn merely minutes ago.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
aircraft, an A310 used for transport of the German Government, was headed for
the capital where the Chancellor had planned to meet with his new cabinet. He
had requested it be tomorrow to coincide with his previous two days touring
suburbs, giving controversial policy speeches to both the public and party
activists. The aim of the meeting was to allow the cabinet to meet in private at
the Chancellors official residence, away from the political critics and
journalists, where they could achieve high-level debate and policy decisions.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">“Your
water, Chancellor,” Lehmann opened his eyes, smiling to thank the flight
attendant and taking the glass. He had unknowingly fallen asleep, tired from his
day of PR exercising and of giving speeches. The past six hours he had spent in
the south of Germany, meeting with Federal Council leaders and the public. It
was a cleverly crafted PR campaign, drafted by his PR ‘Guru’ Hans Roserlinger,
other wise known as his Director of Communications.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Lehmann
leant back in his seat, drifting into a semi-conscious state of fatigue. The
thoughts of the past few days ran through his head. He hadn’t been allowed much
time to rest, constantly travelling from venue to venue, giving speech after
speech, and speaking with politician after politician. Lukas was
exhausted.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">As
he sat next to Hans, who was typically buried in his work, he cast his mind back
to the election campaign. It was adventurous of him to have thought that he
would make Chancellor, that he was the man to lead the SDP to victory. He was
relentless during the election, never admitting that he wanted anything less
than to govern Germany. Such memories, however, seemed a long time ago,
especially when compared with the challenges ahead. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">A
stubborn man at times, Lehmann is seen by many who work with him as strong
willed and determined. In his own words to cabinet, “his decisions were final,
his wishes second only to those of the German people.” Reflecting this, some in
his party view him as an arrogant figure, inflated only by his election success.
They only keep quiet their criticism because of Lehmann’s power and popularity
within the party. Nevertheless, it did not necessarily mean he did not listen.
To activists, he was a miracle worker, transforming the SDP to an elect able
party once again. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">As
a man that had only been a household name for a year, he had carefully
constructed his rise to power. He worked as a history teacher initially, after
having studied history at the University of Munich. Elected during the defeat of
the SDP to Merkel in 2005 (as an SDP candidate) at the relatively young age of
36, he began to make important friends during his days as a junior member in the
Bundestag. Building support behind the scenes, he played to the favours of those
high within the SDP, attracting trust and support. He had worked in the SDP’s
policy unit for a number of years before being elected as leader of the party,
forming close bonds with leaders and senior figures alike. The intelligence and
skill of Hans Roserlinger in forming his image, combined with his popular party
support saw him elected as leader in April 2012. Within days, the change had
begun. Lehmann carefully forced die-hard socialists out discretely, changing the
party’s constitution and moving it toward centre ground to match his ideologies.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
Chancellors private life was also used as a means to polish his image. Often
described as a family man, he married his wife, Meika Meyer, a Berlin court
lawyer in 1999. His politics rarely crossed over into his family life, often
seen as caring husband, and, as of 2006, a caring father. His children demand
much of his time and thoughts, committed to keeping his family out of the media
and out of politics. He expects himself to be criticised and haunted by the
press, but he cannot tolerate the same happening to his
family.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
second eldest and only male, he was born into a family with three other sisters,
growing up in West Germany, Stuttgart. Particularly close to his sisters as a
child and in later life, he was to suffer one of the most turbulent times in his
life in 2010. His sister, Anneliese, was fatally injured in a road traffic
accident in Berlin, sadly dying in November of that same year. She was a lawyer,
returning from court in the midst of rush hour. Little is known in the public
domain about her death, except that it was an unfortunate
accident.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">His
family was hit extremely hard, and Lukas returned to Stuttgart for several
months to support them. His wife and two children moved there permanently in
December of the same year to assist his aging mother and father. When his sister
died, he was still unknown to the public as a politician, and took the decision
to keep the news quiet, with many not finding out until his victory as SDP
leader.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
tragedy had affected Lukas particularly badly. For a while, he contemplated
resigning from the Bundestag, taking a break from his career to support his
family. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">By
2011 however, any thought of him resigning was long gone. He did what he thought
his sister would have wanted: the two were very close, and he knew she would not
have wanted him to throw away his career. There is rarely a time when he does
not remember Anneliese, her death having changed his outlook on life. He keeps
his friends, and more importantly his family, close. Particularly his nephew,
that was only eight when he lost his mother. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Not
an easily trusting man, it takes a lot to gain his support, even more to gain
his trust. The Chancellor is seen as a very offensive political figure, reaching
out and taking what he wants. Unwilling to simply sit back, it is his nature to
take the lead in discussions and to dominate. Although a polite man, very few
people can truly understand him and the way he works. His small circle of loyal
trusted supporters and friends influences him greatly. It was to these
supporters that he was to award with ministerial and senior party positions once
elected. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 265.5pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">“Sir,
your evening paper.” The young flight assistant handed the Chancellor his paper.
Lukas took it and placed it down on his lap, distracting him from his thoughts.
The Chancellor smiled, and although he had a ‘tough’ reputation, he could not
tolerate bad manners. The plane was still an hour away from Berlin, and Lukas
had enough time to waste. There was little he could do on the plane to prepare
for tomorrow, and so, for now, all he wanted to concentrate on was
relaxing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Leaning
back into his seat, he looked out the window. The landscape of the mountains had
almost entirely disappeared: in the distance, the tops of the mountains peaked
above the clouds. Directly below, the Harz landscape was replaced by the
roads and infrastructure of a modern day city, all of which set the Chancellor
thinking.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">‘What
did he hope to achieve now he had been gifted the chance to lead?’ He had known
for a long time how he would govern what he believed to be the greatest country
in the world, but the buildings and people below, set his mind thinking. He
hoped for economic growth, social cohesion, and greater dominance on the
international stage: what every leader wants for their country. More
importantly, however, he wanted Germans to feel pride in their country. They
still did have the largest economy in Europe, albeit weakened, and were still
considered an international power. Nevertheless, that was not good enough for
the new Chancellor: he wanted the impossible in many people’s eyes. Furthermore,
he was prepared to use all the means at his disposal to get what he
wanted.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">ACTIONS<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">1.
Introduce Lukas Lehmann as the new Chancellor of Germany!
:-)</SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>