Merkel slammed over failure to tackle dire threat from China 'Lost contact with reality!'
ANGELA MERKEL's legacy on China has been savaged by MEP Reinhard Bütikofer who criticised the German Chancellor's long-standing position on Beijing.
Merkel departure would have ‘major impact’ on EU says Butikofer
The outgoing German Chancellor has faced strong criticism over the European Union's relationship with China as the long-running stateswoman comes to the end of her time in office. Angela Merkel has been seen by critics as having failed to lead on an EU-wide approach that recognises Xi Jinping's regime as a systemic rival. German MEP Reinhard Bütikofer is one such politician who believes the German leader's stance on China had "lost touch with reality."
Mr Bütikofer told Express.co.uk: "She has lost contact with the dire reality.
"A few years ago Merkel was indeed a very good leader in relations with China.
"She dared speaking up in favour of human rights when others didn't.
"So I admired her for a time but she is now clearly behind the curve."
Mr Bütikofer also has argued that the EU policy towards China will likely change dramatically after Ms Merkel leaves office.
The Chancellor is due to step down after the German federal elections on September 26.
Mr Bütikofer believes this exit of Ms Merkle is likely to have a "major impact" on how Brussels handles Beijing.
It comes as political experts reflect on the biggest policy blunders from Ms Merkel's 16 years in office.
China: Xi Jinping 'may lash out' while vulnerable says Chang
Last month German political commentator Wolfgang Munchau argued that failings of Merkel's administration would become apparent in the years following her departure.
"The trend towards mediocrity is the bane of modern governments in general," said the Director of Eurointelligence.
"When people stop marvelling at Angela Merkel’s political longevity, they will find a country that has no functioning systems in place to evacuate people.
"Or a system that can't manage a nationwide vaccine rollout.
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"Or a system that doesn’t know how to pick winners.
"The German Government invested €300m in Curevac, the German vaccine that didn’t make it."
"The Wirecard episode is ultimately a systems failure - one based on a wrong understanding of good vs bad innovation.
"German energy policy has been a random walk - that ended up with a dependency on Russian gas."