Merkel announces the departure: the magic is solved? | Now

Due to problems at home and abroad, Angela Merkel (64) has had a lot to do in the past three years as Chancellor of Germany. On Monday, she announced that she would chair her party, the CDU, and that she would no longer be eligible for the next elections in 2021. What does this mean for the authority? of Merkel during his last three years at the head of Germany?

Merkel's decision comes a day after the parliamentary elections in Hesse that are disappointing for his party. The CDU remained the most important party, but the regional support granted to the party was considerably reduced compared to 2013. While 38.3% of the Hessen voters still voted for the CDU in 2013, they were 27% the same. Last weekend

Merkel's decision is remarkable, as she has always claimed that her functions as party chairman and chancellor go hand in hand. . "She acted that way thinking that you really are the leader of the party and that you can handle everything," said Hanco Jürgens, a researcher at the German Institute and at the University of Amsterdam. . "But if there is a new party president now, Merkel can really focus again on the government's policy, because of all the feuds of the past few months."

Jürgens thus evokes the instability of the current government coalition. After a lengthy unprecedented training in Germany, Merkel joined CSU and SPD earlier this year with a new government, as well as in the 2005-2009 and 2013-2017 periods. But the current coalition is not as strong as it was before 2017. In the last elections, the CDU and the SPD lost seats and the party comes into play.

The new elections are not obvious

Jürgens does not think that Merkel's decision will endanger the government coalition. "This is only the case if the new elections are attractive to the coalition parties, but no party has any interest in that."

Historian Willem Melching, of the University of Amsterdam, also thinks that investigations are preventing Merkel from terminating his career prematurely. to the current government. He points out that it is not easy in Germany to bring out the Federal Chancellor. However, Melching does not think that Merkel 2021 is saved as Chancellor.

"If you state the position of the head of the left, in Germany directly on your chair legs cut, "he says. "It will not last more than a year, for now, there will be no elections in the state, but voters will no longer have confidence in the government , especially in the SPD coalition partner, they want to get out of this misery. "

Melching is Merkel's attraction after thirteen years of work. "There are few politicians who can govern for more than twelve years, especially the quarrels within the coalition and the grassroots dissatisfaction with the migration policy are dangers for Merkel." The fear among the voters is that a lot of money will go to Italy under Merkel. If problems grow there, just like Greece, the voter thinks that it is beautiful and that it is in a democracy, that sooner or later it will be for everyone. "

Merkel, new president of the CDU in 2000. (Photo: ANP)

Merkel is considered a head of government with great authority in Germany and the world. What influence does Merkel's decision have on his authority, both inside and outside the German borders.

Melching thinks that Merkel's authority in Europe is fading, because Merkel loses two national elections in a short time. "If she says soon to Italy:" You have to pay more ", then the Italians will not take this seriously and will say that they win at least elections, "says the historian." The international authority of Merkel was based on her stable governments with a large majority, you can not read the others if you can to hardly hold a government home, the magic of Merkel has been developed. "

Jürgens claims that Merkel's reputation in the near future depends on the future president of the CDU. "If Annegret becomes Kramp-Karrenbauer, then Merkel does not have to worry, she is close to Merkel and she can therefore retain unity," Jürgens said.

"In Europe, Merkel will continue to play a major role If Brexit is to be reduced in the future, then Merkel is still very important during these long night meetings." She remains the representative of an important EU country and a very prestigious personality, what you had seen last weekend … had with Putin, Erdogan and Macron. "

Merkel seeks a secure future for the CDU [19659006] Jürgens does not believe that Merkel's force was developed. "She just re-elected last year, she can do a lot in three years, but she could have started looking for a successor earlier, it could still go wrong." Merkel wants to give a chance to new people because she hopes that the CDU She also has a promising future after her departure and she wants to begin this transition to a new period.

According to Melching, the CDU faces a daunting challenge to win back voters, but he hopes the party more often in the future, seeking cooperation with several other parties.

"Just as in the the rest of Europe, the big popular parties collapse, the CDU must find how they can bind voters. "In Germany, they are not used to a coalition with more than two parties, but they will have to s & # 39; To prepare for it. "