Germany has a new Chancellor

snowstorm445 · 08-12-2021 12:00pm #1

Today the Bundestag voted in a new traffic light government (the SPD, the Greens, and the liberal FDP) headed by Olaf Scholz, now Germany's new Chancellor and the head of the largest economy in Europe (and the 4th largest in the world). It brings an end to Angela Merkel's 16 years in charge, replacing her CDU-led government.

In terms of actual policy and a broader political impact this has as much significance for Ireland and Europe as a whole as Biden's election last year in America. German Chancellors also tend to have fairly long staying power - Merkel saw 4 French Presidents during her tenure, 5 British Prime Ministers, 8 Italian Prime Ministers, 4 US Presidents and 5 Irish Taoisigh. So we can reasonably expect to hear about Scholz and his government for many years to come...

What will his leadership mean for Europe going forward? And what implications are there for Ireland? Anyone more versed in German politics wish to comment?

Donald Trump · 08-12-2021 12:03pm

Don't mention the war

Raichu · 08-12-2021 12:04pm

as long as they keep the Christmas markets I’m grand with it either way

Hello 2D Person Below · 08-12-2021 12:04pm

Legalisation of weed will drag the rest of Europe into the 21st century.

seenitall · 08-12-2021 1:05pm

A German Green as the Minister of Foreign Affairs should prove interesting.

quokula · 08-12-2021 1:45pm

While Merkel has been chancellor for a long time, both the FDP and SDP have been coalition partners in her government, so it's not likely top be a massive swing or policy shift, more of a gentle move from moderate centre-right to moderate centre-left. The Greens will be pushing for more green policies of course, but then so is everybody who pays attention to the science so that's the direction of travel for all governments around the globe regardless.

Scholz isn't as well liked as a personality so it's very early to suggest he's going to have anything like the staying power of Merkel just yet.

thefallingman · 08-12-2021 1:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118289273#Comment_118289273

Which one !!

Yurt2 · 08-12-2021 4:13pm

I like that his name is Olaf, it reminds me of Frozen.

Thelonious Monk · 08-12-2021 4:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118289632#Comment_118289632

A Green in charge of one of the world's largest economies, boards.ie crank posters and the journal must be having a meltdown

Yurt2 · 08-12-2021 5:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118290983#Comment_118290983

I heard he wants to introduce an EU directive to turn everyone's granny into a bicycle lane and mandate that Currywurst sausages will be made from tofu.

Heraclius · 08-12-2021 5:23pm

It really says a lot about Irish lack of curiosity/interest in Europe that this thread has so little engagement compared to any thread about the US or UK.

Heraclius · 08-12-2021 5:25pm

While the SPD has been in government with the Free Democrats and the Greens before it hasn't been in government with them both at the same time. I wonder how stable the government will really be and how capable of agreeing major policies.

riffmongous · 08-12-2021 5:27pm

Scholz is hardly a Trump or BoJo though, not much sca there

Heraclius · 08-12-2021 5:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291322#Comment_118291322

I don't really mean it should attract the same attention as the inauguration of a US president but I just feel the German Chancellor has a significant impact on the direction of the EU so surely we should be a bit more interested.

fly_agaric · 08-12-2021 5:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291362#Comment_118291362

Well looking at usual topics + posts, the forum here is generally plugged into US (& UK) right wing, and fighting the 2 sides of the US/UK "culture wars" etc.

Their media sources of choice maybe haven't started to monster the new German govt. (since it is barely in office!) so no posts about it yet.

From little I've read, this German govt. edit: could be more pro EU than the last one and will maybe agree with what Macron has been saying for years + start another push for further/deeper EU integration. So there could be wails of terrible anger unleashed here if/when that kicks off!

snowstorm445 · 08-12-2021 6:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291294#Comment_118291294

Closer to Boston than Berlin springs to mind.

I guess a lot of it is down to the language barrier, but it is a sign of how utterly Americanised Ireland is that even lower-level politics in the US (which admittedly can be very dramatic and flashy) get a great deal of traction whereas a European country with a much stronger influence on our politics is barely noticed. Or if there are any comments on it, the usual rehashing of stale WW2 jokes like some lazy British tabloid.

Heraclius · 08-12-2021 6:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291677#Comment_118291677

Yes, I'm guilty of it myself unfortunately. I try my best to keep up to date with politics in mainland Europe but I'm definitely more informed about who is running for governor in a given US state than who is leading the opposition in Portugal.

Melanchthon · 08-12-2021 10:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118291294#Comment_118291294

That's true but I imagine the French Presidential elections will have more interest than this event even though Germany is probably more important for Ireland than France. The German contest is a lot more horsetrading behind closed doors and coalition based.

[Deleted User] · 08-12-2021 10:56pm

A Green Chancellor will never retake Alsasc-Lorraine, Let alone Prussia

Germany has a new Chancellor

Comments