Merkel’s Paths to Power Don’t Guarantee a Strong Government
While the center still holds in Germany, the chancellor doesn’t have many options to build a stable coalition.
Photo illustration: 731; Photo: Bloomberg
Angela Merkel’s future has caused Germany much angst. Her own Christian Democrats (CDU) spent much of last year in turmoil over who should succeed her at the end of her expected 16-year reign as chancellor. Then this month, her junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), elected a duo of leftist leaders who question key tenets of the CDU’s governing philosophy.
None of this looks great for Merkel. And yet the 65-year-old former physicist remains hugely popular, both inside and outside the country. Much of the political establishment in Germany and Europe wants a seasoned leader in charge when Berlin assumes the presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2020. And Merkel herself has said she doesn’t want to go anywhere. Despite appearances to the contrary, the chancellor is well-positioned to ride out the next two years in whatever way she wants.