Baltic leaders praise Merkel after win 

VILNIUS - Leaders in the Baltic States have praised Angela Merkel after she won the German elections on Sept 22. Merkel secured 41.5 percent of votes that will allow her center-right Christian Democrat party to continue its rule.

Posting on Twitter, Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis said: “Convincing support for CDU (Christian Democrat Party) and Frau Merkel will boost confidence in the strong leadership for European recovery. Congratulations.”

Using the same medium, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite also tweeted: “Congratulations for Angela Merkel’s party. Go Angela, go!”

Grybauskaite added: “I wish you every possible success in continuing the work of critical importance to Germany and Europe. I firmly believe that the joint and ever more dynamic efforts by Lithuania, currently holding the six month rotating presidency of the EU Council, and Germany will yield significant results for our two countries and Europe as a whole.
Latvian MEP IneseVaidere welcomed the result and added that it would also benefit the Baltic shores, reports LETA.
“Merkel’s convincing victory is wonderful news for Europe, especially for the eurozone’s stability,” she said.

“We will be able to count on Germany as a reliable partner in Europe, implementing policy aimed at long-term development.”
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip believes that Merkel continuing as the German chancellor strengthens the euro area stability and helps to restore economic growth, reported Public Broadcasting. “The relations between Estonia and Germany have been very close and the basis for this has been a similar understanding of how to keep finances in order in the euro area and of the future of the European Union,” Ansip said. “Angela Merkel’s election victory means continued movement in the chosen direction.”

Ansip pointed out that Merkel gives attention to both small and big member states. “Her strength is the skill of reaching compromises and she keeps in mind that small states wouldn’t suffer,” Ansip said.