In October of 2018, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the end of her four term reign. Now, a little more than two years later, Germany and the European Union are beginning to realize how bittersweet parting with the chancellor during such unprecedented times will be.
(Merkel announces her 2021 resignation in 2018, The Economist)
While Merkel is still the acting chancellor of Germany, many fear that her leadership has faltered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. While Germany was initially praised worldwide for its handling of the virus, the situation has changed in the year since the first outbreak of COVID-19 near Munich in January of 2020. Under the direction of Merkel, the German health system handled the initial waves of the virus with moderate ease, isolating cases, tracing contacts and relying on Germany’s state-of-the-art hospital system to keep fatalities low nationwide.
(“Keep your distance! Thanks.” World Economic Forum.)
Last week, Merkel reversed a previously announced plan to lockdown Germany amidst the newest wave of infections, claiming she had “made a mistake.” Merkel’s statement came after a torrent of warnings from German officials about how reversing lockdown plans would cause a rise in infections and deaths for Germans. While support for Merkel and her party skyrocketed in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, “this is no longer the case” says Holger Schmieding, a chief economist at Berenberg Bank. Multiple recent failures, mainly the "U-Turn" on the Easter 2021 lockdown beg the questions: what is Merkel doing wrong? Is she worn out from an almost 20-year-long term?
(COVID-19 infections have been spiking in Germany since October of 2020, Statista.)
Multiple factors account for Merkel’s recent struggles to lead in unprecedented times. For one, Merkel is ending an almost two decade term. Merkel assumed office in November of 2005, and has been instrumental in making Germany the strongest economy in Europe, leader of the European Union, and one of the stalwart defenders of democracy, a “leader of the free world” at a time when the United States has sometimes been considered erratic and unreliable . Another reason for her seemingly distracted and disordered pandemic leadership stems from the anticipated change in leadership at the end of her term. Merkel has picked Armin Laschet of the CDU to be her successor as chancellor, but the decision will have to be confirmed by German voters in September. As Merkel’s term ends in what may be seen as a series of erratic decisions and miscalculations, it is important not to misconstrue the chancellor’s decade and a half of steadiness and altruism in office. Merkel’s indisputable confidence in leading one of the most powerful nations on earth for over 15 years has inspired many to be more selfless in politics, and to stress organization over charisma.
(Merkel and Laschet in Essen, August 2020, Time.)
References:
Ellyatt, H. (2021, March 26). Confidence in Merkel's Leadership Falters as Germany's Pandemic Drags. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/26/germanys-merkel-and-cdu/csu-popularity-falls-during-the-pandemic-.html
Angela Merkel Will Step Down as CDU Party Leader in December. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/11/03/angela-merkel-will-step-down-as-cdu-party-leader-in-december
Eddy, M. (2021, March 24). Merkel Reverses Prolonged Easter Shutdown Plan, Apologizing for 'Mistake'. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/24/world/europe/german-merkel-coronavirus-lockdown.html
Hill, J. (2021, March 27). German Covid Easter U-Turn Shakes Merkel's Cool, Calm Image. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56537390
Written by Jens Spahn, F. (n.d.). How Germany Contained the Coronavirus. Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/how-germany-contained-the-coronavirus/
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