#StopMerkel tops Twitter in Spain
June 7, 2012: 4:09 PM ET
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the top trending topic on Twitter in Spain Thursday, but not in a good way.
#StopMerkel "is the label that we will use all afternoon to protest the intervention of the German Chancellor," reads one tweet by Alcalde de Jun, according to Google Translate.
In many cases, the tweets were petty and vindictive, referring to Merkel as a dictator hell bent on European domination. But the trend underscores the sense of resentment in Spain and other parts of Europe over the austerity measures that Germany has become associated with.
Some tweets suggested that Spain could be the next in line to be bailed out if Merkel has her way.
"Greece, Ireland, Portugal, now #Spain, Europe is being hollowed out to preserve a broken financial system. #StopMerkel," tweets David Ferreira.
Armando el pollo, or Armando the chicken, put it this way: "G̶r̶e̶e̶c̶e̶ ̶I̶r̶e̶l̶a̶n̶d̶ P̶o̶r̶t̶u̶g̶a̶l̶ Spain ... Europe #StopMerkel."
However, not all of the tweets were critical of Merkel's position. Indeed, some in the twitersphere defended the German leader.
"If you #StopMerkel, who is going to keep writing checks to Club Med? It ain't Belgium, that's for sure," tweets Tero Kuittinen.
