Berlin is expected to draw out new and possibly tougher policies towards China and Russia in its diplomatic realm and French President Emmanuel Macron could be hoping the new dispensation would not block his EU reform ideas.
New Delhi: It is time for some significant changes on the global stage. The expected transition in Germany could make things a bit tougher for China and some of its designs.
Angela Merkel would be finally out of power in Germany, and the new coalition regime is to be headed by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who was Vice-Chancellor under Merkel. Under the influence of Greens, the FDP party, Berlin is expected to draw out new and possibly tougher policies towards China and Russia in its diplomatic realm. Chancellor Merkel was often accused of being lenient to Beijing and Moscow, which might have cost Germany's trade interests.
The new ruling combine comprises the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Ultimately, Olaf Scholz's march as Chancellor of his country is punctuated with the drama of coalition politics often discussed and debated in India.
Scholz was Vice-Chancellor to Merkel and was also the Finance Minister.
SDP was a junior ally under Angela Merkel for 12 of the last 16 years. Foreign policy experts say Germany's next government represents an odd mix of status quo thinking and reformist instincts in more ways than one. Of course, it's a marriage of convenience between strange bedfellows.
Scholz is now set to succeed Merkel. Merkel has decided to stay away from the contest.
On the China front, the new government would raise human rights abuses, especially in Xinjiang, and support "democratic Taiwan". Regarding Russia, interestingly, NordStream II, the gas pipeline linking Russia and Germany that is supported by the SPD but opposed by the Greens, is not mentioned in the coalition treaty.
On the other hand, French President Emmanuel Macron could be hoping the new dispensation would not block his EU reform ideas.
Critics say Germany is too much dependent on China on trade, which has often forced it to ignore human rights violations by authorities in Beijing. China became Germany's biggest trade partner in 2016.
Meanwhile, Germany has announced new commitments worth more than Rs 10,025 crore to India to support its fight against climate change.
The focus of the financial commitment to India will be to tackle climate change and assist in the country's ongoing energy transition.
Once called 'eternal Chancellor', Merkel was a good alter ego to masculine leaders like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Her admirers say she provided steady leadership, presenting herself as a unifying figure and steered Germany well during multiple crises that hit the world in the last 16 years.
She began as the youngest and first female Chancellor in 2005. The 67-year-old leader has seen the times of former headline hunters such as George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac.
