Business
Angela Merkel, Germany's Effective Leader, Prepares To Vacate Office
September 16, 2021
September 20, 2021
When long-standing and influential German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves office after the country’s upcoming federal election, many political pundits will be keeping an eye on France. That’s because experts think that France — and specifically, President Emmanuel Macron — is waiting in the wings for an opportunity to try to replace Germany as Europe’s de facto leader and arguably, the region’s superpower.
Who would Macron prefer in Germany?
Like the rest of Europe, France is closely following the course of the election campaign in Germany and will have watched the rise in popularity of the center-left Social Democratic Party with interest.
The party’s candidate for chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is the current finance minister and vice-chancellor and, as such, is no stranger to the responsibilities of high office or other leaders in Europe. Macron welcomed both Scholz and rival Armin Laschet to the Elysee Palace in early September. Notably absent was an invitation to Germany’s Green Party candidate Annalena Baerbock.
SOURCE:CNBC