Merkel accused of crushing south Europe

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s challenger in the German election accused her in a television debate yesterday of crushing southern European countries with austerity, declaring her euro crisis strategy a failure.

Merkel, who is seeking a third term in the Sept 22 vote, hit back, pointing out that rival Peer Steinbrück’s Social Democrats (SPD) had supported her euro policies in parliament throughout the turmoil of the past years.

“You voted for everything,” Merkel said, turning and smiling at her rival.