photo credit: The Harvard Gazette
Angela Merkel has officially stepped down from her position as Germany’s Chancellor after an unprecedented sixteen-year term in this Central European democracy, beating America’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt by three years and Great Britain’s Margaret Thatcher by four years. At a news conference in October of 2018, Merkel announced that she would not run for re-election in 2021. Her policies and statecraft often placed Germany at the center of European and World affairs. Under Merkel, Germany was an economic dynamo and the poster-child for a greener world. In a world of closed borders, Merkel risked her career to embrace immigrants and refugees. At international conferences, Merkel was often the most intelligent person in the room.
Merkel was the first female Chancellor of Germany, raised in what was once known as East Germany, or “Communist East Germany.” It was the section of Germany that was occupied by Soviet forces after World War II and remained a Soviet-bloc nation or satellite during the period 1945-1991, known as The Cold War. She was a strong advocate for reconciliation, citizenship, civil society and civic engagement.
Angela Merkel’s political career began after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 when she joined the Democratic Awakening – an East German political party. She became the party’s press spokesperson in February of 1990. Merkel then took on the roles of deputy spokesperson in August of 1990, a seat in the Reichstag of the German parliament representing Stralsund-Rügen-Grimmen in December 1990, Minister for Women and youth in January 1991, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Deputy Chairwoman in December 1991, Minister of Environment in 1994, Secretary-General of the CDU in 1998. She was the first non-Catholic and woman head of the CDU in 2000 and leader of the opposition in 2002. She also publicly called for the removal of Helmut Kohl – the Chancellor before her – after he made some gaffes regarding Germany’s foreign policy.
The culminating moment of her political career was, on November 22, 2005, when Merkel was sworn in as the Chancellor of Germany.
For sixteen years German politics has revolved around Merkel, and to a large extent, the European Union (EU) as well. The EU is an economic and political union of 27 countries in Europe that strives for freedom, democracy, equality, human dignity, human rights, and the rule of law. Merkel helped to steer the fractious union out of the financial crash of 2008 and the Euro Crisis. “She was a conservative politician who focused on finances and making sure that Germany and the EU were on stable financial ground”, said Karen Drohan, Fieldston Upper School history teacher.
The Euro Crisis occurred when several European countries experienced high government debt, the collapse of financial institutions, and loss of confidence in governments. The economic turmoil initially began with the destruction of Iceland’s banking system, then spread to Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. Amidst the panic, Merkel encouraged Germany and much of Northern Europe to consider the Euro Crisis as an “issue of morality, obligation and historical responsibility.” She acknowledged and addressed the “structural roots” but denied that German banks were responsible for the Euro Crisis. Her leadership provided indebted nations with a safety net but it also made them adopt more stringent methods of accountability.
Part of Merkel’s legacy in Germany is her compassion for others and her political humanity. In 2015, she made the controversial announcement that Germany would process asylum applications for Syrian refugees displaced by the civil war there and Bashar’s crimes against humanity. These refugees included those who were denied asylum by other European nations. Merkel let more than 1 million helpless refugees into Germany.
“In the midst of the Syrian refugee crisis she also had a blind spot when it came to recognizing the threat from the far-right which, as in much of Europe in the last 10 years, had been gaining strength in Germany,” Drohan said.
While some fled to Germany to find paid work, others came to start a new life. Merkel told her colleagues and citizens concerned about the challenges of unification that “we can do this!”, showing her optimism and faith in the country. Despite the political backlash against her from the far right, Markel had confidence in Germany’s ability to absorb and accept its new citizens over time.
Angela Merkel’s long political career has come to an end. She had always been clear that she wanted to leave office on her terms, telling German photographer Herlinde Koelbel, in 1998, “I want at some point to find the right time to quit politics… I don’t want to be a half-dead wreck.”
The future of Germany now lies in the hands of former Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is facing his first international crisis over the conflict between Ukraine and Putin’s Russia.
Scholz is part of the Social Democratic Party, which won the most votes in September’s federal election. For decades he has had experience with politics: Mayor of Hamburg, member of the German parliament, and labor and finance minister under Merkel. A critical factor in his win is that he is a calm, pragmatic leader who is often compared to President Biden.
He now leads a coalition alongside the Greens and libertarian Free Democratic Party. Each party released an approved coalition agreement, and Scholz’s newly established cabinet includes politicians from all three parties.
A crucial difference between Merkel and Scholz is that Merkel was more accustomed to European policy. In contrast, Scholz plans to be more aligned with the United States. Another difference is that all of Scholz’s national and international security ministers are women. Scholz has made clear that he plans to equalize his cabinet.
There will always be challenges to overcome when a new administration takes power. But, like any other country in the world right now, Germany is facing a pressing battle with COVID-19. As a result, new federal guidelines have been put in place to stop the spread of the virus. Additionally, Scholz’s leadership test will be to persuade 18 million Germans to get vaccinated. Another challenge will be transforming the economy into a greener version of itself without putting Germany into debt from raising taxes. The Scholz administration must prove they can govern a coalition and improve German citizens’ lives.
If Olaf Scholz wants to be as successful as Angela Merkel, he must manage the political differences within Germany, build on Merkel’s legacies, and chart his own course through new areas of conflict.
