The center-left German Social Democrats narrowly defeated Angela Merkel’s Conservatives. Leader Olaf Scholz said he has a clear mandate to form a government. The two parties governed together for years, but this is unlikely to continue.
Who will govern the country? How will the outcome of the German elections affect Europe’s leadership? What are the forecasts – a conversation from Berlin with Vessela Cherneva – Programme Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Very dynamic development in recent weeks in this election campaign. Something quite unusual for the German political tradition, commented Vessela Cherneva. Asked what follows in Europe’s leadership after Angela Merkel, the programme director of the European Council on Foreign Relations said: This is a contested title – Europe’s leadership. French President Macron, who also expects elections in May next year, would like to carry the title. Dutch Prime Minister Rutte would dispute this. In general, it seems it is not so easy to get into Angela Merkel’s shoes, but the role of Germany will continue to be leading.
Europeans expect Germany to continue to be the engine to push Europe forward, and that will be the next Chancellor’s big task. For Eastern Europe, however, it is clear that Merkel, with all her tolerance towards people like Orban, Borissov, Vucic and others, was still the most sensitive to the problems of Central and Eastern Europe. It was heard most in Berlin during her governance.
