Was Kohl criticized for his focus on stability?
Some critics suggested that my emphasis on stability and gradual progress, particularly during the period of German reunification and the early stages of European monetary union, was too cautious. They might have felt that faster, more radical change was possible or even desirable. However, I always believed that significant transformations, especially those involving national sovereignty and continental integration, must be carefully managed. The lessons of the Weimar Republic, with its inherent instability, and the longer arc of European history, cautioned against haste. My concern was always to ensure that we did not jeopardize the hard-won peace and freedom we had achieved. It was about ensuring that the foundations we laid were solid, not just for the present, but for the long term.
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