Francis Hartnett

Hartnett first came to the German capital in 1995 from Melbourne, Australia. He began offering English-language tours of the city and now employs 15 to 20 guides at "Insider Tour." Hartnett plans to stay for at least a couple of more years, but is thinking about returning to his home country. "The lifestyle's pretty enviable there," he said, adding that Australia's booming economy and optimism might be a better environment for his 15-month-old son to grow up in. "I would want him to be shaped by that as opposed to present-day Germany," he said.

DW-WORLD: How is Germany doing in your opinion?

Francis Hartnett: I think Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) said at the Cologne World Youth Day that Europe is lost in pessimism at the moment and that it has particularly striken Germany and Germans. I think that's a problem that pervades this country socially and economically. As much savings as this country has it needs to be invigorated. It's going to snowball into a greater problem unless change is made, unless people feel energized and are given direction. Germany really needs to have some sense of purpose.

What needs to happen in Germany to help speed up the country's recovery?

There needs to be some political effort to raise the profile of Germany internationally. There have been attempts in recent years but they are not leading anywhere. Instead of all these fainthearted attempts to portray Germany as new European country, there needs to be plain talk about redefining and feeling good about Germany and the good things of its past.

Gerhard Schröder or Angela Merkel? Who is your personal choice for chancellor? Why?

When it comes down to personality, Schröder is very appealing. He's very professional. But Merkel's public relations people seem to have put her in pretty good shape and she is looking more professional. I guess as with any political malaise, the public has a pervading sense that it's time for change and I've also fallen prey to that. I think the shadow cabinet Merkel is trying to assemble sounds interesting. Her financial advisor is talking about a 25 percent tax rate -- that sounds quite exciting. Her conservative stance might be welcomed by international investors. She has a more critical stance towards Russia, which is good, and a more appeasing stance towards the US, which I think is not so good.

What do you like about Germany?

I really like Germany in the sense that it is extremely progressive. I really appreciate its environmental stance, coming from Australia, where we are so much like the US. Everybody seems to have an opinion here, people are quite engaged and that's quite healthy.

What do you dislike about Germany?

I'm sick of Germans' miserable attitudes towards themselves. That's really boring and annoying as well. The rigidity, this selfishness, this short-sightedness -- not wanting to invigorate the economy, where everybody should know full well that's the only way to take on reforms. There seems to be a lack of responsibility for the future of Germany. It comes down to a negative self-perception of themselves.