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The revolutions in Eastern Europe paved the way for the collapse of communism in East Germany, otherwise known as the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik), in 1990. One of the most important government officials in West Germany at the time was Rolf Nikel. Today, he serves as unified Germany's Ambassador to Poland.EurActiv Poland reports.

Rolf Nikel is Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Poland. He was interviewed by Editor-in-Chief & Managing Director, EurActiv Poland Karolina Zbytniewska.

What would have happened if the Berlin Wall hadnt fallen down?

At that time, I was working in Chancellors Helmut Kohls office, where I was responsible for Polish-German relations. We were amazed how the situation on the Eastern side of Iron Curtain evolved thanks to people taking their fate into their own hands. It was just incredible.

The situation as of 1989 made it inevitable in the context of the pro-democratic revolution that set off in the summer of that year in Poland with the first semi-democratic elections and first non-communist PM Tadeusz Mazowiecki (and) developments in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. History was happening in front of our eyes.

The Berlin Wall had to fall down. It was inevitable. It was only (a) question (of) when, under which circumstances, and whether it would be stable or not.

Seeing this peaceful uprising made you predict that Germany might be the next in line.

Yes, but we couldnt predict the Soviets reaction. After coming to power in 1985, it took Mikhail Gorbachev some time to consolidate his authority. And no one really knew how he might have reacted to the changes that were occurring. You have to keep in mind that in the GDR, there were 380,000 Soviet soldiers and that the Soviet Union (SU) had a track record of military intervention crashing down on anti-communist demonstrations as in 1953, 1956, 1968 etc.

In 1989, Gorbachev made the right decision not to intervene which allowed the whole democratic processes in Eastern Europe to happen peacefully. But the fall of the Berlin Wall and, more generally, of the Iron Curtain was a natural consequence of what began in Poland. So Germany is very much indebted to the liberation movement in Poland and other countries, but especially to Poland, which was very much advanced in the democratic process, thanks to Solidarno.

Why did Gorbachev decide not to intervene?

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Interview with Rolf Nikel, Germanys Ambassador to Poland

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No one rose up to challenge House Speaker John Boehner this fall. Now, even his staunchest GOP critics say theyll end up voting Thursday afternoon to give the Ohio Republican another two years with no other options out there.

Even some of the dozen conservatives who launched a failed bid to oust Boehner in early 2013 said theyre sticking with the current leadership team, which includes Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.).

Challenges to leadership are very unusual in the history of Congress, and the Speaker and his team have done a great job of raising money, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) said in an interview Thursday. Im planning to vote for him later today.

Another conservative critic, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), has committed to backing Boehner, saying he feels the leadership team has finally begun to listen to input from the right. And Rep. Ral Labrador (R-Idaho), who challenged McCarthy for the No. 2 job earlier this summer, said he has no plans to shake up the current leadership team.

But several Tea Party Republicans signaled that theyll be holding their noses as they cast a ballot for Boehner in a closed-door meeting in the Cannon House Office Building.

Conservative Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) said he was voting for Boehner because theres really not any other options. Huelskamp refused to commit to voting for Boehner in a second vote in January on the House floor, saying thats an issue for next year, and we havent got that far.

And one of the most outspoken Boehner foes, Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), said he would probably end up voting to give the Speaker a third term but would wait until the last minute to make his decision.

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Congratulations to Massachusetts voters who chose Charlie Baker for governor. We were not swayed by the powerful Democrat machine and their all-stars (the Clintons and Michelle Obama) who descended from on high to support Martha Coakley. Dont get me wrong, I am sure Ms. Coakley is a nice person but it is better with divided government. For too long, our state has been plagued with one-party rule, which breeds corruption, cronyism and cynicism.

Nationally, voters clearly signaled their disapproval of President Obamas agenda and leadership. He was upside down in every poll and in every category. I am convinced the new Congress will work together but I am not hopeful about Team Obama. The president and his advisers are stubborn and determined to impose their vision on a country that no longer trusts him. Nearly three quarters of us feel the U.S. is on the wrong track.

If I read the tea leaves correctly, Obamas final two years will be volatile and cement his place in history as one of the worst presidents in the modern era.

Peter B. Robb Holliston and Oak Bluffs

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