Her days are numbered in the European bloc

The European Union does not want a chancellor, another version of Angela Merkel

• The chancellor is in her last days before she steps down.

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After the German elections on September 26, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel finally steps down, after 16 years, the European Union will bid farewell to its longest-serving president.

Frankly, Merkel has long been a major player at the EU level, has seen and dealt with crises in the bloc, and ultimately helped keep the EU together at some of its most divisive times.

However, although she disagrees with the EU team on some issues, Merkel takes measures only after she has delayed the decision as long as possible, and perhaps the most emphatic confirmation of this claim is the general German phrase, which refers to the unresolved things with “ kicking things,” that is, delaying them.

While Merkel has been an advocate, with a persuasive rhetoric that can be relied on in terms of the ideological value of the EU, many of her decisions, at the EU level, have been taken after a period of sluggishness or in the case of decisive last-minute shifts, or in the absence of There is no other option left.

Bold Decisions

This is not to say that such decisions are not controversial or even bold at times. During the financial crisis between the eurozone and Greece, Merkel eventually clashed with both her conservative party's orthodoxy of tighter spending limits and German popular sentiment to save the government. The Greeks complied, but only after insisting first that the move was off the table, and delaying action until the entire bloc swung and came to the brink of a debt default, which would have led to the collapse of the system.

The harsh austerity conditions of Greek bailouts, and aid packages for other faltering southern Mediterranean countries, have also led to criticism that Merkel was forcing the "German way" on other countries, not exactly the feeling that fostered solidarity within the EU.

I remember my conversation with my Spanish family, who was fraught with resentment that Germans continued to take advantage of Spain's low-cost beach vacation, while Spaniards were suffering from low public spending and unprecedentedly high unemployment.

brave decision

Then, in 2015, as millions of Syrian asylum seekers sought safety in Europe, Merkel made the politically brave and morally correct decision not to close Germany's borders.

But that decision is still a backlash, and was made only after attempts to agree on an EU-wide refugee distribution system failed, and EU states such as Hungary allowed tens of thousands of asylum seekers to travel to Germany's southern border.

More recently, "corona bonds", or joint debt at the European Union level, were approved, but that approval resulted in anathema to Merkel's reign as chancellor, as that approval came after many "no's" that persisted at first, even in the face of economic shutdown. The unprecedented pandemic spurred by.

As a conservative, Merkel is, by definition, bent on maintaining the status quo, taking a step forward only if her back is against a wall, and while this approach has made the EU so far, it is no longer sufficient.

visionary leader

A visionary German leader is needed in terms of EU policy, and the next German chancellor should have the vision of proactive leadership in facing the bloc's current and future challenges.

While some Germans may feel uncomfortable about their work as a driver of European politics for historical reasons, it is important to remember that there is a difference between power and leadership, and that many Europeans today see Berlin as their capital they long for.

For the sake of the European Union, the next German chancellor must be someone who not only works within the team, but can also mobilize the team, and be able to anticipate challenges rather than respond randomly to them, with such challenges abound.

With the climate crisis worsening by the day, failure to act boldly should not be an option for a global political leader.

Russia's brazen stance calls for choosing a leader who can anticipate and prepare for potential future confrontations, rather than one who prefers to distance himself from his neighbors and think about his own energy interests and geopolitical thinking.

China's determination to consolidate its global influence and create a quiet transatlantic relationship means that the EU must also make itself stronger and more independent, including by securing defense spending targets.

In addition, resolving the bloc's internal divisions requires more creative thinking about future political arrangements, and perhaps the adoption of those ideas that depart from Merkel's consensus-based approach.

Last but not least, the next chancellor must reach out more fervently, promote the EU's successes, and inspire confidence in the union's citizens, especially the younger generation.

Incidentally, in April a poll of all EU citizens revealed that 45% of Germans are either ambivalent about being a member of the EU, or think it is a bad thing, so the next German chancellor should start proactively building the future of the EU in Inside.

• A visionary German leader is required at the moment with regard to the policy of the European Union, and the next German chancellor should have a vision of proactive leadership, in the face of the bloc's current and future challenges.

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While Merkel has been an advocate, with a persuasive rhetoric that can be relied on in terms of the ideological value of the European Union, many of her decisions at the EU level were taken after a period of sluggishness, in the case of decisive turnarounds at the last minute, or in the absence of There is no other option left.

• As a conservative, Merkel, by definition, is determined to maintain the status quo, and does not take a step forward unless she leans her back against the wall, and while this approach has made the European Union move forward so far, its pace is no longer sufficient.

• Kristina Burak... Editor at Deutsche Welle

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