Washington Post article: Thatcher and Merkel combine.. Liz Truss may surprise everyone

American columnist Sebastian Mallaby says that no one currently can guess what the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss will do, adding that she may surprise the British and the world.

He explained in

for the "Washington Post" that Trass, who likes to imitate former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has a mixture of a few of Thatcher's qualities and those of the steely German pragmatism of Angela Merkel.

She resembles Thatcher in the strength of her convictions in her political decisions, and she resembles Merkel in her firmness and pragmatism, free from the constraints of principles.

And Terrace, 47, according to the writer, resembles Thatcher in that she does not descend from the distinguished wing of the ruling Conservative Party, she attended public school, excelled academically and studied at Oxford, and appeared in the first candidates debate last July, wearing a white shirt with a bow in front. .

When Terrace was asked to name a flaw in her character, she admitted, as if she was an Iron Lady, that she was "too impulsive."

The conditions of her country are similar to the Thatcher era

Like Thatcher, Ters came to power at a time when her country was in its darkest days. In 1979, Britain was seen as the "sick man of Europe".

That year, the inflation rate exceeded 13%, and the country lost 29 million working days due to strikes.

Today, inflation is close to the same level and railway workers, nurses, garbage collectors, postal workers, teachers, and civil servants;

All of them are either on strike or planning to strike.

The rise in natural gas prices has caused a cost-of-living crisis. On the first of next October, household energy bills are set to jump by 80% unless Terrace does something, and this will come above the 54% increase witnessed last April.

Terrace is also unfazed by what others think, sharing her iron heroine's misgivings about the government's reliance on professional experts.

She has been dubbed the "Human Grenade" for her sometimes ruthless handling of sensitive issues, but as Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce she had a reputation for getting things done.

Do not be bound by principles and steel in sticking to its decisions

However, there is also a major difference between Thatcher and Terrace. Thatcher was conservative from conviction and principles, and Terrace is not. This is evidenced by the transition of Terrace from the positions of liberal democrats to conservatives, and her transformation from opposition to Brexit into a strong enemy of Europe.

Remarkably, she is now pretending to be an advocate of the pro-Brexit right in her party.

Terrace has one important strength, says Malabe: she's enthusiastic rather than lazy, fighter rather than soft-spoken and narcissistic;

This is where Merkel's model might fit.

The former German chancellor was neither charismatic nor particularly principled, yet she dominated German politics for 15 years, and her achievement shows how hard work and pragmatism can generate lasting political success.

Terrace was adept enough to hold ministerial posts under the three Tory prime ministers, despite their bitter divisions, and now has the job few thought she would.

Although she is unlikely to win the hearts of British voters, she will at least avoid being distracted by reckless scandals.

She may not be the Thatcher she aspired to be, but with good will and political instinct she might come as a surprise.