Markel to be chancellor for second term

IRON LADY; FIRST AFTER MARGRET THATCHER


Angela Markel is all set to become the Chancellor of Germany for the second term as election held on Sunday gave her fractured mandate to rule the nation for second time in row. Markel’s party Christian Democrats (CDU) and ruling coalition partner Social Democrats (SPD) fought election on separate manifesto but SPD performed badly and won only 23%of the votes. On the other hand, a pro-business party Free Democrats (FDP) secured 14% of the votes. The Markel’s CDU/CSU won 33%. Markel is not set to end the grand coalition with Social Democrats and forge alliance with FDP.

Markel, who become first woman Chancellor of Germany in 2005, by overshadowing the towering personality like Helmut Kohl, has proved herself by spectacular performance in so many difficult times for Germany. Silencing the critics who call Markel as unimpressive and under-performer leader, she sometimes outsmarted leaders like Gordon Brown and Obama also on a number of occasions at international platforms.

TOUGH JOBS AHEAD- Speculation was rife in international media ever since recession took second toll in Japan after USA when 55 years of rule of LDP and 8 years of rule of Republicans came to an end after elections which were held after recession has begun in Japan and USA respectively, that Markel 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. The unemployment is all time high and economic recovery is sluggish. Although, Germany is not as shopaholic as many other European countries, the recession has taken heavy too here also. The export is 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 all time high. She 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% and they have secured 11.9%, therefore the job of Markel vis-a-vis reforms and austerity would not be so easy.

The erstwhile partner Socialist Democrats’ leader Westerwelle has said that he would act as a vigilant but responsible opposition. Markel, sensing the mood of the people and vote percentage she got, has said that her job would be for ‘all Germans’. 

MARKEL; AN IRON LADY- Born in 1954, Markel’s rise in Germany’s politics is somewhat meteoric. She joined CDU in 1990, when the entire World, especially Europe was in turmoil. The collapse and dismemberment of the USSR and subsequent end of communist world put tremendous socio-economic stress on many European countries including Germany. The Unification of East and West Germany had stymied the economic progress of Germany for quite some time. It was a phase of transition when Markel joined the party.  Within four years of joining politics, she became environment minister and her interaction with political figures like Helmut Kohl made her political more mature and administratively more acumen. In 2000, she was elected leader of CDU and in the election held after in 2005 she was elected to lead this nation. She became the first Chancellor of Germany a country historically in turmoil for years. She embarked on the journey and led successfully her nation to the present situation where even USA and UK has to think twice before refusing Germany’s words on international politics. Germany’s ascendancy to this position could be made possible by many others including Markel. That is why she rightly deserves to be called as Iron Lady, but only after Margret Thatcher.