The results of Angela Merkel’s tenure as chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany are not very positive both for her party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), and for Europe as a whole. This opinion was expressed on December 3 by the author of The Daily Telegraph.
As the author notes, Merkel dominated European politics for 16 years – almost as long as Helmut Kohl, but as soon as she left office, it turned out that she did not leave much of a positive legacy. Probably, she will be remembered for her last decision – opening the way to mandatory vaccination, the material says.
According to the author, Germany remains the main economic power in Europe, but the future does not look as clear as it used to be. In this regard, he mentions the debt crisis in Greece, when Merkel defended German banks, although she had to “throw under the bus” another member of the European Union. During this period, the countries of southern Europe were forced to resort to tough economic measures that left “deep economic and political scars.”
The author of the article is convinced that Merkel’s mistakes will have long-term consequences. For example, the decision taken in 2011 to abandon nuclear energy after the Fukushima accident only led to Germany’s dependence on Russian gas.
Also in 2015, Merkel opened Germany’s borders to more than a million refugees from Syria and other countries. The consequences of this decision are still evident in Eastern Europe, the article notes.
Merkel’s party is currently in its worst position in years. Merkel ruled for almost as long as post-war Germany’s record holder Helmut Kohl, but the question is whether history will appreciate her successes, the author sums up.
Earlier, on December 3, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said that Merkel would resign after the election of a new head of government, which was tentatively scheduled for December 8. Olaf Scholz will be elected as the new German chancellor.
On the same day, in the courtyard of the Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany in Berlin, a ceremonial farewell to Merkel took place from the post of chancellor. The Bundeswehr Orchestra performed several compositions, including three chosen by the head of the Cabinet, among which was the punk hit from the GDR Nina Hagen – Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen (German: “You forgot your color film”).
Parliamentary elections in Germany were held on September 26. Angela Merkel did not run for office. The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) won the elections with 25.7% of the vote, followed by the CDU / CSU bloc with 24.1%. The Green Party is in third place with 14.8%. The new parliament will have 735 deputies. The SPD will take 206 seats, the CDU / CSU – 196, and the Green Party – 118.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
