Merkel to hold second term as Chancellor of Germany
Election held on Sunday, September 27, gave a fractured mandate and ensured Angela Merkel of her second term on the seat of the Chancellor of Germany. The first woman Chancellor of the country now has to lead the country out of the present recession.
ANGELA MERKEL is all set to be the Chancellor of Germany for a second term as the elections held on Sunday, September 27, gave her a fractured mandate to rule the nation for second time in row.
Merkel’s party Christian Democrats (CDU) and ruling coalition partner Social Democrats (SPD) fought the election on separate manifestos but, SPD performed badly and won only 23 per cent of the votes. On the other hand, pro-business party Free Democrats (FDP) secured 14 per cent of the votes. The Merkel’s CDU/CSU won 33 per cent. Merkel is not set to end the grand coalition with Social Democrats and forge alliance with FDP.
The first woman Chancellor of Germany in 2005, Merkel overshadowed the towering personality Helmut Kohl and has proved herself by her performance in so many difficult times for Germany. Silencing critics, who call Merkel an unimpressive and under-performer leader, she sometimes outsmarted leaders like Gordon Brown and Obama on a number of occasions at international platforms.
Speculation was rife in international media, ever since recession took second toll in Japan after USA when 55 years of rule of LDP and eight year rule of the Republicans came to an end after elections which were held after recession had begun in Japan and USA respectively, that Merkel would not be able to hold the key. Nevertheless, the jobs ahead her are not easy.
The largest economy of Europe and biggest partner in EU, Germany too is facing rough times due to recession. Unemployment is at an all time high and economic recovery is sluggish. Although, Germany is not as shopaholic as other European countries, the exports are low and deficit is high. The public debt is also not very comfortable. In this situation, the task is tough and mandate is thin.
The performance of Free Democrats (FDP) has aroused expectations of the business community. Merkel had to fine tune her economic and financial policies so that the workers and owners both are satisfied. The vote percentage of left parties has registered a growth of 3.2 per cent and they have secured 11.9 per cent.
The erstwhile partner Socialist Democrats’ leader Westerwelle has said that he would act as a vigilant but responsible opposition. Merkel, sensing the mood of the people and vote percentage she got, has said that her job would be for ‘all Germans’.
Born in 1954, Merkel’s rise in Germany’s politics is somewhat meteoric. She joined CDU in 1990, when Europe was in turmoil. The collapse and dismemberment of the USSR and subsequent end of communist world put tremendous socio-economic stress on many countries including Germany.
The unification of East and West Germany stymied the economic progress of Germany for quite some time. It was a phase of transition when Merkel joined the party. Within four years of joining politics, she became the environment minister and her interaction with political figures like Helmut Kohl made her politically more mature.
In 2000, she was elected leader of CDU and in the election held in 2005 she was elected to lead this nation. She became the first Chancellor of Germany and embarked on the journey and led her nation to the present situation where even USA and UK had to think twice before refusing Germany’s words on international politics. Germany’s ascendancy to this position could not have been possible without Merkel.
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