European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily Magazine never a popular figure Chancellor Helmut Kohl has confounded critics with his ability to survive in Ollice. Bonn s faltering Chancellor by William Tuohy los Angeles times to Many germans and choir Western  Helmut Kohl has been a lower of teutonic stability now. However Many Ottem describe him in considerably less altering terms in recent weeks Kohl s image has shifted from that of a plodding but reliable ally to that of a Panicky political opportunist offending Bonn s closest friends in the Wake of a series of election setbacks and policy changes Kohl s standing in Public opinion polls has plummeted the parties of the government coalition Are wrangling among themselves and Kohl s Vuturo a1 Chancellor is said to be in doubt. According to the Magazine Stern parly stalwarts May dump Kohl before the general election schedule Lor december of not year. They had Kohl to thank Tor their seats posts and sinecure Stern said and they knew the elephant in the chancellery would stamp on any critic. Now there is danger that the Herd will crush its Leader underfoot because it no longer trusts him to defend its Rich feeding  there Are a number of reasons for the drastic shill in Kohl s image but the main reason is one that goes to the heart of West Germany s lies with its Western allies the Issue of Short Range nuclear missiles based m Kohl s country. Kohl s position that the allies should forgo modernizing the missiles and enter negotiations soon with the soviet Union on that subject is directly opposed to that of Washington which is in favor of upgrading nato s Arsenal of tactical missiles in Europe. Kohl has never been a popular figure but he has confounded critics with his ability to survive despite his stolid wait and see leadership. Some observers say his strengths have been those of a canny tenacious provincial politician useful qualities but perhaps not suitable for the Leader of a major european Power Kohl has been compared to the late president Johnson the self made texan who combined a sure touch on the Domestic scene with a faltering step abroad. Like Johnson. Kohl is a big heavy shambling Man with a Mastery of the backroom levers of his party who can be vindictive when crossed. Also like Johnson Kohl is n n imply not f Igurna with n regional accent no facility for foreign languages and a Down Home manner All of which Are satirized by the political cartoonists who Are accustomed to worldly chancellors like Konrad Adenauer Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt. Kohl has always Boon criticized Tor not providing vigorous International leadership but this year he Coito to have lost his touch on Domestic policies and this confused and alienated voters in recent local elections in trying to placate Domestic opinion. Kohl reversed himself on the missile Issue and As a consequence incurred the contempt and anger of Bush administration officials and British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. A month ago. Bush and Thatcher believed that in return for their delaying a decision on the sensitive Issue of modernizing the missiles in West Germany. Bonn would not press for negotiations on their reduction. But 24 hours after this dear was struck in Brussels. Kohl caved in to the persistent demands of foreign minister Hans Dietrich Genscher and called for Early talks with the soviets he also reversed himself on the length of service Lor West German conscripts his government announced an increase from 15 to 18 months because of the declining birthrate. Then to the dismay of defense officials he said the Extension would to put off. He cited new figures but refused to disclose them. These  a West German analyst said have monday May 29. 1989 Pali Iriate Washington. London the defense Community and nato allies but they May play Well at Homo " Angelka voile a West German policy analyst said. Germans want to get rid of nuclear missiles and they Don t mind a Chancellor standing up to the us and British on  Kohl has also reversed himself on health welfare and lax Reform questions once he realized that they were unpopular. These about faces have led to a perception of Kohl As changing course in response to every political a ind rather than providing firm guidance. Still some see this As an ability to adjust to popular wishes. And some of Kohl s problems Are not of his making. To presides Over an unwieldy coalition of three patties his Center right Christian democratic Union its bavarian sister party the Christian social Union which is More to the right and the Liberal free democrats who stand to the Tell. Kohl has allowed the foreign minister. Genscher. A Leader of the free democrats to take Over the reins of foreign policy to the consternation of Washington and London to the extent that Genscher is known As Bonn s secret Chancellor " Genscher stands High in popularity polls. For years Kohl s main antagonist was Franz Josef Strauss Leader of the Christian democrats Independent bavarian Wing the Christian social Union who died last year. Ironically Strauss rightist image kept Many ultraconservative under the Christian democratic Lent but they Are now voting Lor far right parties. Because of his political Shilts. Kohl May not be Able to recover the centrist vote political observers say and he has lost the Chance to be considered a True statesman. But Kohl always seemed improbably cast for the world stage. Born in the Industrial City of Ludwigshafen in the wine growing Rhineland pal. He was the son of a roman Catholic customs official and a protestant Mother in High school to became a youth member of the Christian democratic Union then studied at the University of Heidelberg which awarded him a doctorate in history. At 29 he was elected to the Rhineland Slalz slate legislature. He married and lathered two sons and held a succession of political posts in the process learning to manipulate the party machinery. He became the youngest Man Ever elected Premier or governor of the slate then moved on to the Federal level in Bonn. In 1976 to was his party s Choice for Chancellor but lost to Schmidt. In the next  1980. Strauss shouldered Kohl aside to run at the top of the ticket and lost. In 1982, the free democrats switched allegiance from the social democrats bringing Down the Schmidt government and teamed up with the Christian democrats. Kohl was named Chancellor and won the office in his own right in 1983, then again in 1987. Kohl has weathered political crises the flick affair involving charges that to had accepted funds from industries on behalf of his parly his dismissal of a senior general on unsupported morals charges and his insistence that president Reagan accompany him to the Pitburg military cemetery which contains the Graves of several nazi is men. Kohl scorns Public relations advice and is confident that to can reach the German people directly with his Folksy approach. But he is a stilled speaker and does not project Well on television. He is fond of pointing out that he is the first Chancellor of the postwar generation. He Speaks of knowing the real Germany As distinguished from intellectual circles in Bonn. Hamburg and Berlin and unabashedly praises the fatherland concept that appeals to much of the Middle class. He has tended to surround himself with men whom some regard As second rate. His former official spokesman encouraged him to describe soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev As a belter propagandist than the nazi propaganda chief Josel Goebbels a Gale that froze Moscow Bonn relations for nearly two years. More recently in part because of poor advice. Kohl mishandled the Issue of a libyan factory with the apparent potential of making chemical weapons Kohl insisted that West German companies were not helping Libya build the factory Long alter it had been made Clear that they were. Despite All this few political analysis Are writing Oil Kohl who has proved the sceptics wrong before. The stars and stripes Page 13