This was published 2 years ago
Editorial
Auf Wiedersehen, Chancellor Merkel
There is no obvious replacement for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Over the 16 years that she has run the world’s fourth largest economy, Dr Merkel has become the linchpin of the European Union, able to unite the bloc’s quarrelling leaders on the 21st century’s most divisive themes: immigration, climate change, economic crises and, for her final lap, the coronavirus pandemic.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Donald Trump with other world leaders at the G7 summit in Quebec in 2018. Credit: German Federal Government/AP
She has seen off seven Australian prime ministers, five British ones and four US presidents. While she had an easy rapport with Barack Obama, her global reputation has been burnished by her dealings with more difficult sparring partners. Self-styled macho men Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin both had to reckon with Dr Merkel, their antithesis, a process-driven details-oriented former scientist who has never been one for stump speeches.
The famous photo of her leaning in, so to speak, across the desk from then-president Trump at the 2018 G7 summit speaks volumes of her willingness to take on the tough jobs. She fought Mr Trump on trade, on defence, on migration and finally on the virus, decrying “the limits of populism” in thinly veiled trans-Atlantic swipes.
Her relationship with Mr Putin was more complex, perhaps because they developed a grudging mutual respect over the long haul. While she led the charge against Russia over its attacks on Ukraine’s sovereignty, she became the continent’s “Putin whisperer”.
“Overall, we have a lot of conflicts with Russia that unfortunately make our relationship very difficult,” she said in April this year. “Nevertheless, I am someone who says we must always talk.”
Dr Merkel with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris this month.Credit: AP
Of course her greatest strengths are also her weaknesses. In keeping the lines of communication open, she has also been accused of being too soft. Her legacy is muddied by the Nord Stream gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which has racheted up anxiety in Eastern Europe over energy security.
But she was always there. Dr Merkel dictated the terms when negotiating three bailouts for Greece, but while political operatives gave her kudos for statecraft, those struggling with the austerity measures she applied will not thank her.
Accepting 1 million Syrian refugees at the height of the migrant crisis in 2015 also had unintended consequences. While Germany’s integration program has been largely successful, Dr Merkel could not project the charismatic compassion needed to rally citizens to the cause. Instead, her party now faces a rising far-right and increasing societal divisions. Mr Obama was right when he said she was “on the right side of history on this one”, but it may take a generation.
And while the former environment minister was an early advocate of emissions reductions, her domestic record on climate is mixed. She was swift, even sudden, in announcing the nation would get out of nuclear energy after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but her government has been sluggish shutting down coal and electrifying its powerful vehicle industry.
But what long-term leader of a multiparty democracy working within a federation of nations would come out of a 16-year stint with a spotless record?
Whoever wins the election held this Sunday (Monday AEST) will discover how hard her job has been. There are three likely prospects: her own centre-right Christian Democratic Union’s lacklustre candidate, Armin Laschet; the more dynamic Social Democrat Olaf Scholz; and the wildcard, Green Annalena Baerbock.
French President Emmanuel Macron is probably Dr Merkel’s heir as most powerful leader on the continent – awkward for Australia in the wake of l’affaire AUKUS – but Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi, a former head of the European Central Bank, shows early signs of conveying Merkelian authority.
Dr Merkel may be known as “Mutti,” or “mother” at home, but she never really aimed to win hearts as well as minds. She is the epitome of the policy wonk, thoroughly across the details of her brief, tireless in thrashing out solutions. She gets results through a Stakhanovite work ethic and an appetite for difficult tasks. In an age of demagogues looking for low-hanging fruit, it’s her tenacity that the world will miss.
Only 67 (a mere teenager in American president years), Dr Merkel insists she will retire. It would not be surprising if she soon tires of tending her vegetable garden and watching the soccer. Asked in 2019 how she would like to be remembered in history books in 50 years’ time, she said only this: “I tried.”
Auf Wiedersehen, Chancellor. You sure did.
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