In an emotional moment, German Chancellor Angela Merkel bid goodbye to the President of France Emmanuel Macron as they met for what is expected to be the last time before Merkel steps down.

'You kept Europe united', says Macron while raising final toast to Merkel

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel urged other countries to put a price on carbon emissions, which are the main cause of global warming.

COP26 climate summit: Angela Merkel urges for 'concrete measures' to tackle crisis

Germany's new&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;met for the first time Tuesday after last month's election, ushering in a post-Merkel era that is more feminine, younger and more ethnically diverse.

After 31 years as an MP, outgoing Angela Merkel left the front-row seat reserved for the government and took her place above the chamber in an "honorary loge" as caretaker chancellor until a new government is in place.

The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) won the most votes in the September 26 general election, and their candidate Olaf Scholz is working to cobble together a ruling coalition by early December.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-concerned-after-erdogan-threatens-to-expel-foreign-envoys-423862">Germany 'concerned' after Erdogan threatens to expel foreign envoys</a>

While the top job is expected to pass from&nbsp;Germany's first woman chancellor to a man, the Bundestag lower house's powerful speaker Wolfgang Schaeuble handed off the gavel to Baerbel Bas, only the third woman to hold the post.

Schaeuble, 79, who has served in&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;for half a century, told deputies that democracies stood a chance against "authoritarian" competitors only by ensuring that "diversity of points of view" in their societies are respected.

"We can disagree," he said, but conflicts must be fought "fairly, according to rules". German political debate has become increasingly "intolerant of differences", he added.

The SPD chose Bas, 53, a relatively low-profile MP, in part to ensure that one of&nbsp;Germany's top political jobs is still held by a woman after Merkel leaves the stage.

"It does our country good for citizens to see that a woman is in charge at the heart of our democracy," she said, while regretting that so few women have held the job in the post-war era.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-olaf-scholz-inches-closer-to-succeed-merkel-as-chancellor-421132">Germany: Olaf Scholz inches closer to succeed Merkel as chancellor</a>

The new Bundestag, which has grown to a record 736 seats, boasts a number of firsts for the EU's most populous country, although activists say it still has far to go to reflect the nation's growing diversity.

'Need diversity'

The first-ever black woman MP, Eritrean-born Awet Tesfaiesus, 47, took her seat among the Greens' parliamentary group.

Having arrived in&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;at age 10, Tesfaiesus went on to become a lawyer defending the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers.

"We need diversity in this country," she told AFP. "We need people who have been victims of racism to be better represented."

Tesfaiesus said she wants to fight the "label of foreigner" that sticks to many despite having a German passport.&nbsp;

"You feel latent racism everywhere," she said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-elections-spd-registers-narrow-victory-over-cdu-csu-alliance-coalition-likely-416242">German elections: SPD registers narrow victory over CDU-CSU alliance; coalition likely</a>

Tesfaiesus told German media she launched her political career after an attack near Frankfurt in February 2020, when a far-right gunman shot dead nine people at a shisha bar and a cafe.

She joins Senegalese-born Karamba Diaby -- a Social Democrat who was until now&nbsp;Germany's only black MP -- and his party colleague Armand Zorn, who emigrated from Cameroon at the age of 12 and just won his first direct mandate in&nbsp;parliament.

The number of foreign-born deputies or those with at least one parent born abroad has climbed to 83, making up 11.3 percent of the Bundestag, up from 8.2 percent in the last assembly.

'Far behind'

The new class of deputies also marks a generational watershed, with a quarter of lawmakers aged under 40.

But despite its broader representation, the Bundestag, with its overwhelmingly white and male make-up, still lags in mirroring the modern face of&nbsp;Germany.

Deniz Nergiz, head of the Federal Council on Immigration and Integration, which promotes political participation in immigrant communities, told AFP that&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;was still "far behind" the 26 percent of people of foreign origin "across German society".

Watch |&nbsp;Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel embarks on farewell tour to Israel

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/germanys-chancellor-angela-merkel-embarks-on-farewell-tour-to-israel-419750/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The same is true for women, even after 16 years with Merkel as the first woman chancellor at the helm. They make up only 24 percent of deputies, up from 20 percent previously.

The gender figures vary widely among the parties, with the Greens boasting a 59 percent majority of women, including two transgender women.&nbsp;

By contrast, the far-right Alternative for&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;counts only 13 percent of women among its ranks.

Germany's new parliament met for the first time Tuesday after last month's election, ushering in a post-Merkel era that is more feminine, younger and more ethnically diverse.

Germany's new parliament met for the first time Tuesday after last month's election, ushering in a post-Merkel era that is more feminine, younger and more ethnically diverse. After 31 years as an MP, outgoing Angela Merkel left the front-row seat reserved for the government and took her place above the chamber in an "honorary loge" as caretaker chancellor until a new government is in place. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) won the most votes in the September 26 general election, and their candidate Olaf Scholz is working to cobble together a ruling coalition by early December. Also read | Germany 'concerned' after Erdogan threatens to expel foreign envoys While the top job is expected to pass from Germany's first woman chancellor to a man, the Bundestag lower house's powerful speaker Wolfgang Schaeuble handed off the gavel to Baerbel Bas, only the third woman to hold the post. Schaeuble, 79, who has served in parliament for half a century, told deputies that democracies stood a chance against "authoritarian" competitors only by ensuring that "diversity of points of view" in their societies are respected. "We can disagree," he said, but conflicts must be fought "fairly, according to rules". German political debate has become increasingly "intolerant of differences", he added. The SPD chose Bas, 53, a relatively low-profile MP, in part to ensure that one of Germany's top political jobs is still held by a woman after Merkel leaves the stage. "It does our country good for citizens to see that a woman is in charge at the heart of our democracy," she said, while regretting that so few women have held the job in the post-war era. Also read | Germany: Olaf Scholz inches closer to succeed Merkel as chancellor The new Bundestag, which has grown to a record 736 seats, boasts a number of firsts for the EU's most populous country, although activists say it still has far to go to reflect the nation's growing diversity. 'Need diversity' The first-ever black woman MP, Eritrean-born Awet Tesfaiesus, 47, took her seat among the Greens' parliamentary group. Having arrived in Germany at age 10, Tesfaiesus went on to become a lawyer defending the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers. "We need diversity in this country," she told AFP. "We need people who have been victims of racism to be better represented." Tesfaiesus said she wants to fight the "label of foreigner" that sticks to many despite having a German passport. "You feel latent racism everywhere," she said. Also read | German elections: SPD registers narrow victory over CDU-CSU alliance; coalition likely Tesfaiesus told German media she launched her political career after an attack near Frankfurt in February 2020, when a far-right gunman shot dead nine people at a shisha bar and a cafe. She joins Senegalese-born Karamba Diaby -- a Social Democrat who was until now Germany's only black MP -- and his party colleague Armand Zorn, who emigrated from Cameroon at the age of 12 and just won his first direct mandate in parliament. The number of foreign-born deputies or those with at least one parent born abroad has climbed to 83, making up 11.3 percent of the Bundestag, up from 8.2 percent in the last assembly. 'Far behind' The new class of deputies also marks a generational watershed, with a quarter of lawmakers aged under 40. But despite its broader representation, the Bundestag, with its overwhelmingly white and male make-up, still lags in mirroring the modern face of Germany. Deniz Nergiz, head of the Federal Council on Immigration and Integration, which promotes political participation in immigrant communities, told AFP that parliament was still "far behind" the 26 percent of people of foreign origin "across German society". Watch | Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel embarks on farewell tour to Israel The same is true for women, even after 16 years with Merkel as the first woman chancellor at the helm. They make up only 24 percent of deputies, up from 20 percent previously. The gender figures vary widely among the parties, with the Greens boasting a 59 percent majority of women, including two transgender women. By contrast, the far-right Alternative for Germany counts only 13 percent of women among its ranks.

Post-Merkel, a diverse German parliament debuts, but critics demand more

May, Modi, Merkel, Macron: Past and present world leaders with impeccable fashion sense

European leaders gave German Chancellor Angela Merkel a standing ovation on Friday at her last EU summit after a 16-year reign that helped guide the bloc through major ups and downs.

Merkel has attended a staggering 107 EU summits that saw some of the biggest twists in recent European history, including the eurozone debt crisis, an inflow of Syrian refugees, Brexit and the creation of the bloc's landmark pandemic recovery fund.

"You are a monument," the host of the summits, European Council chief Charles Michel, said in the closed-door homage to her, according to an official in the room.

An EU summit "without Angela is like Rome without the Vatican or Paris without the Eiffel tower", Michel said.

He handed Merkel a perspex cube with a globe described as an "artistic impression" of the Europa building where EU summits are hosted.

Merkel, with characteristic lack of fanfare, thanked journalists for their long nights at summits, though she offered a strong word of caution on the challenges still facing the EU, and her German successor.

"I am leaving the European Union, as far as my responsibility of Federal Chancellor is concerned, at a point in time where there is cause for concern," she said.&nbsp;

"We have overcome many crises but we have a series of unresolved problems," she said, citing disputes on migration, the bloc's economy, and rule of law in EU countries.

'Compromise machine'

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel called Merkel a "compromise machine" who "usually did find something to unite us" through marathon intra-EU negotiations.&nbsp;

"Europe will miss her," he said.

Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg called her "undoubtedly a great European" and "a haven of peace, if you like, within the European Union".&nbsp;

Her departure, he said, "will leave a hole".

Her final summit, a two-day affair in Brussels, leaned once again on her soft-power skills to ease a burning row with Poland over its rejection of the EU's legal order -- something many believed could be the next existential threat to the European Union.

On the first day on Thursday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki defended an October 7 ruling by his country's Constitutional Court that said EU law applied only in specific, limited areas and Polish law prevailed in all others.

Merkel, backed by French President Emmanuel Macron, spent her considerable political capital pushing for dialogue with Poland, warning against a "cascade" of legal fights if the issue blew up into challenges before the European Court of Justice.

The message was received by the European Commission and countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium that wanted a more muscular slapdown of Poland, which they accuse of rolling back democratic norms by removing judicial independence in national courts.

'Principles over self-interest'

East-west feuding has been a recurrent theme in Merkel's long tenure.

Her mediating role reflected both the status of Germany as the EU's economic powerhouse with sway over many of the former Soviet-bloc countries, whose membership to the union tilted the political balance away from Paris and towards Berlin.

It also spoke to Merkel's family background, of German and Polish descent, as well as her tactic of discreet behind-the-scenes nudging while conflicting forces exhausted themselves, before stepping in with a compromise solution.

In a surprise video posted on Twitter by the EU's Michel, former US president Barack Obama praised Merkel as one of those rare leaders who put "their principles above any narrow definition of self interest".

"It is a testament to your character that you'd probably enjoy working at a meeting of the European Council more than being the centre of attention like this," he added.

Germany is still in the process of putting together a government to replace Merkel's, following September elections she did not contest that saw her conservative CDU party handed a drubbing.&nbsp;

European leaders gave German Chancellor Angela Merkel a standing ovation on Friday at her last EU summit after a 16-year reign that helped guide the bloc through major ups and downs.

European leaders gave German Chancellor Angela Merkel a standing ovation on Friday at her last EU summit after a 16-year reign that helped guide the bloc through major ups and downs. Merkel has attended a staggering 107 EU summits that saw some of the biggest twists in recent European history, including the eurozone debt crisis, an inflow of Syrian refugees, Brexit and the creation of the bloc's landmark pandemic recovery fund. "You are a monument," the host of the summits, European Council chief Charles Michel, said in the closed-door homage to her, according to an official in the room. An EU summit "without Angela is like Rome without the Vatican or Paris without the Eiffel tower", Michel said. He handed Merkel a perspex cube with a globe described as an "artistic impression" of the Europa building where EU summits are hosted. Merkel, with characteristic lack of fanfare, thanked journalists for their long nights at summits, though she offered a strong word of caution on the challenges still facing the EU, and her German successor. "I am leaving the European Union, as far as my responsibility of Federal Chancellor is concerned, at a point in time where there is cause for concern," she said. "We have overcome many crises but we have a series of unresolved problems," she said, citing disputes on migration, the bloc's economy, and rule of law in EU countries. 'Compromise machine' Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel called Merkel a "compromise machine" who "usually did find something to unite us" through marathon intra-EU negotiations. "Europe will miss her," he said. Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg called her "undoubtedly a great European" and "a haven of peace, if you like, within the European Union". Her departure, he said, "will leave a hole". Her final summit, a two-day affair in Brussels, leaned once again on her soft-power skills to ease a burning row with Poland over its rejection of the EU's legal order -- something many believed could be the next existential threat to the European Union. On the first day on Thursday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki defended an October 7 ruling by his country's Constitutional Court that said EU law applied only in specific, limited areas and Polish law prevailed in all others. Merkel, backed by French President Emmanuel Macron, spent her considerable political capital pushing for dialogue with Poland, warning against a "cascade" of legal fights if the issue blew up into challenges before the European Court of Justice. The message was received by the European Commission and countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium that wanted a more muscular slapdown of Poland, which they accuse of rolling back democratic norms by removing judicial independence in national courts. 'Principles over self-interest' East-west feuding has been a recurrent theme in Merkel's long tenure. Her mediating role reflected both the status of Germany as the EU's economic powerhouse with sway over many of the former Soviet-bloc countries, whose membership to the union tilted the political balance away from Paris and towards Berlin. It also spoke to Merkel's family background, of German and Polish descent, as well as her tactic of discreet behind-the-scenes nudging while conflicting forces exhausted themselves, before stepping in with a compromise solution. In a surprise video posted on Twitter by the EU's Michel, former US president Barack Obama praised Merkel as one of those rare leaders who put "their principles above any narrow definition of self interest". "It is a testament to your character that you'd probably enjoy working at a meeting of the European Council more than being the centre of attention like this," he added. Germany is still in the process of putting together a government to replace Merkel's, following September elections she did not contest that saw her conservative CDU party handed a drubbing.

'Monument' Merkel gets standing ovation at last EU summit

Olaf Scholz, leader of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved a step closer to succeed Angela Merkel as the next chancellor of Germany. On Friday, he announced that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks.

SPD, the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said that exploratory talks into government formation had been constructive and this allowed them to establish a roadmap for more formal negotiations.

Party committees are expected to vote over the weekend on whether to do so, bringing them closer to forming a "traffic light" alliance after their respective red, yellow and green colours - the first of its kind at federal level.

The Greens and FDP have kept open the option of turning to the conservatives, who have been in office for the last 16 years, should talks with the SPD stumble. The conservatives criticised the road map as contradictory and short on detail.

But polls show most voters back a traffic light alliance and even senior conservatives have given up on leading the next government.

"A new start is possible with the three parties coming together," Scholz told a news conference.

"If parties that are so different could agree on joint challenges and solutions, then that would be an opportunity to unite our country," said FDP leader Christian Lindner.

It offered "a chance that a possible coalition could be greater than the sum of its parts," he added.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Olaf Scholz, leader of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved a step closer to succeed Angela Merkel as the next chancellor of Germany. On Friday, he announced that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks.

Olaf Scholz, leader of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved a step closer to succeed Angela Merkel as the next chancellor of Germany. On Friday, he announced that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks. SPD, the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said that exploratory talks into government formation had been constructive and this allowed them to establish a roadmap for more formal negotiations. Party committees are expected to vote over the weekend on whether to do so, bringing them closer to forming a "traffic light" alliance after their respective red, yellow and green colours - the first of its kind at federal level. The Greens and FDP have kept open the option of turning to the conservatives, who have been in office for the last 16 years, should talks with the SPD stumble. The conservatives criticised the road map as contradictory and short on detail. But polls show most voters back a traffic light alliance and even senior conservatives have given up on leading the next government. "A new start is possible with the three parties coming together," Scholz told a news conference. "If parties that are so different could agree on joint challenges and solutions, then that would be an opportunity to unite our country," said FDP leader Christian Lindner. It offered "a chance that a possible coalition could be greater than the sum of its parts," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany: Olaf Scholz inches closer to succeed Merkel as chancellor

The outgoing chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel has embarked on a farewell tour to Israel. This is the eighth visit to Israel since taking office in 2005. Merkel held talks with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem and attended a special meeting with the Israeli cabinet. Bennet welcomed Merkel to the cabinet meeting and held discussions on Iran's nuclear programme. The Israel prime minister introduced Merkel as a great friend of Israel as Merkel described the friendship as a “stroke of good fortune."

Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel embarks on farewell tour to Israel

Germany is headed for weeks, if not months, of protracted coalition haggling as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives insisted on Sept. 27 on trying to form a government even after losing to the Social Democrats in a tight race. Watch this report for more details.

Germany in political limbo after SPD narrow win

Angela Merkel's Conservatives registered their worst performance in the recently concluded national elections. The Social Democrats led by Olaf Scholz appear to have an advantage in securing a majority coalition. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas US Edition: Merkel's Conservatives beaten in tight election

After the cards were dealt, Germany's fraught election night had apparently left two options on the table: Either center-left Social Democrat (SPD) Olaf Scholz will preside over a coalition with the Green Party and the pro-free market Free Democrats (FDP), or center-right Christian Democrat (CDU) Armin Laschet will get the chance to do so. Watch this report for more details.

Germany's Green party and FDP emerge as kingmakers

In an exclusive conversation with WION, Ambassador Gurjit Singh, former Indian envoy shares his assessment over Germany's government formation, listen in.

Who will succeed Angela Merkel? Indian ambassador Gurjit Singh shares his assessment

Germany looks set for a three-way coalition in Berlin after one of the country’s most significant federal elections in recent years. Germany’s Social Democrats hold narrow lead in the race to succeed Angela Merkel.

Germany: Social Democrats hold a narrow lead

Social Democrats (SPD) headed by Olaf Scholz won German federal elections narrowly as per official prliminary results. They bagged&nbsp;25.7 per cent votes. They beat Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives who bagged 24.1 per cent votes. The Green Party got 14.8 per cent votes&nbsp;followed by the liberal FDP at 11.5 percent. The far-right&nbsp;Alternative for Germany bagged&nbsp;10.3 percent votes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-spd-secretary-general-says-we-have-mandate-to-govern-416203">Also Read:&nbsp;German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern'</a>

However, neither SPD not Merkel's CDU/CSU is&nbsp;likely to get a majority as both said they were targeting coalitions. Opinion polls earlier had suggested a knife-edge battle between the two arch-rivals.

The new leader will take over the reins from Chancellor Angela Merkel who had expressed her intention to step down after the elections after 16 years at the top.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-federal-elections-2021-what-you-need-to-know-about-race-for-chancellor-416151">Also Read:&nbsp;German elections: What you need to know about race for chancellor</a>

Armin Laschet, 60, was pushed by Angela Merkel as her likely successor, however, Olaf Scholz the leader of the SPD is now the favourite to succeed Merkel. Scholz who is widely known for his tenacity has been the finance minister and vice-chancellor under Merkel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-open-in-germany-to-elect-new-chancellor-spd-cdu-csu-in-tight-race-416095">Also Read: Germany to elect new chancellor, polls predict tight race</a>

The party which comes to power finally will have the task to continue the battle against the virus and keep Germany's economy rolling.&nbsp;

The fight for the top job is however far from over as both Laschet &amp; Scholz expressed their desire to cobble a coaltion before Christmas.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Social Democrats (SPD) headed by Olaf Scholz won German federal elections narrowly as per official prliminary results. They bagged 25.7 per cent votes. They beat Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives who bagged 24.

Social Democrats (SPD) headed by Olaf Scholz won German federal elections narrowly as per official prliminary results. They bagged 25.7 per cent votes. They beat Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives who bagged 24.1 per cent votes. The Green Party got 14.8 per cent votes followed by the liberal FDP at 11.5 percent. The far-right Alternative for Germany bagged 10.3 percent votes. Also Read: German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern' However, neither SPD not Merkel's CDU/CSU is likely to get a majority as both said they were targeting coalitions. Opinion polls earlier had suggested a knife-edge battle between the two arch-rivals. The new leader will take over the reins from Chancellor Angela Merkel who had expressed her intention to step down after the elections after 16 years at the top. Also Read: German elections: What you need to know about race for chancellor Armin Laschet, 60, was pushed by Angela Merkel as her likely successor, however, Olaf Scholz the leader of the SPD is now the favourite to succeed Merkel. Scholz who is widely known for his tenacity has been the finance minister and vice-chancellor under Merkel. Also Read: Germany to elect new chancellor, polls predict tight race The party which comes to power finally will have the task to continue the battle against the virus and keep Germany's economy rolling. The fight for the top job is however far from over as both Laschet & Scholz expressed their desire to cobble a coaltion before Christmas. (With inputs from Agencies)

German elections: SPD registers narrow victory over CDU-CSU alliance; coalition likely

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel's CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union) alliance could not repeat its performance in 2017 elections and lost ground to other parties.

Here is the vote share of main parties as per preliminary official results

SPD (Centre-left): 25.7 per cent 
CDU/CSU (Centre-right): 24.1 per cent 
Green Party (Pro-environment): 14.8 per cent 
Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Pro-business): 11.5 per cent 
Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Far right): 10.3 per cent

Final official results will be published in a few weeks.

The Green Party registered their best performance yet. Though its candidate for chancellery Annalena Baerbock may not become chancellor, the party may prove to be a kingmaker. Green Party's performance shows that voters were concerned about environmental issues like Climate Change.

Since the difference of votes between SPD and CDU/CSU is not too large, it can be said at present that both parties have a chance to form a government but with help from smaller parties. Neither of these parties has a majority on their own.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-spd-secretary-general-says-we-have-mandate-to-govern-416203">German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern'</a>

Neither the SPD nor the CDU-CSU want a repeat of the left-right "grand coalition" that has featured in three of Merkel's four governments.&nbsp;

Both, CDU and SPD have claimed that they have got a mandate to form government and lead the coalition as senior partner.

<img alt="Armin Laschet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c574601-bd7a-482f-8e24-398bf707605b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Laschet.JPG" />

(Armin Laschet, CDU/CSU candidate for the post of chancellor)

Although parties are now trying to stitch up a coalition, all of them have refused to include far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) among them.

Polls over, what next?

German chancellor is elected by members of parliament from themselves. However, election for chancellor will not take place right away. Ruling coalition must be formed first. The negotiations could take weeks.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-federal-elections-2021-what-you-need-to-know-about-race-for-chancellor-416151">German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor</a>

This time, it seems very likely that a three-party coalition will form the government. If it happens, it will be departure from post-Second World War tradition of two-party coalition governments.

When the ruling coalition is formed, the partners will draft coalition agreement. It is in this agreement that the coalition partners will name new chancellor who will then be elected by vote in the parliament.

Decrease in CDU/CSU vote share

CDU/CSU bloc's vote share fell below 30 per cent for the first time in seven decades. Though Angela Merkel remains Germany's most popular politician, it remains to be seen whether her relative absence from campaigning had any effect on decrease in vote share.

She had supported Armin Lachet to be Germany's next chancellor. Laschet even had high approval ratings months before election. But series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These include getting caught on camera laughing in a ceremony to honour those who lost lives in Germany's recent floods.

In contrast, Olaf Scholz ran an error-free campaign that saw his approval ratings rise than what they were at the start of the race.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel's CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union) alliance could not repeat its performance in 2017 elections and lost ground to other parties. Here is the vote share of main parties as per preliminary official results SPD (Centre-left): 25.7 per cent CDU/CSU (Centre-right): 24.1 per cent Green Party (Pro-environment): 14.8 per cent Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Pro-business): 11.5 per cent Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Far right): 10.3 per cent Final official results will be published in a few weeks. The Green Party registered their best performance yet. Though its candidate for chancellery Annalena Baerbock may not become chancellor, the party may prove to be a kingmaker. Green Party's performance shows that voters were concerned about environmental issues like Climate Change. Since the difference of votes between SPD and CDU/CSU is not too large, it can be said at present that both parties have a chance to form a government but with help from smaller parties. Neither of these parties has a majority on their own. Also Read | German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern' Neither the SPD nor the CDU-CSU want a repeat of the left-right "grand coalition" that has featured in three of Merkel's four governments. Both, CDU and SPD have claimed that they have got a mandate to form government and lead the coalition as senior partner. (Armin Laschet, CDU/CSU candidate for the post of chancellor) Although parties are now trying to stitch up a coalition, all of them have refused to include far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) among them. Polls over, what next? German chancellor is elected by members of parliament from themselves. However, election for chancellor will not take place right away. Ruling coalition must be formed first. The negotiations could take weeks. Also Read | German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor This time, it seems very likely that a three-party coalition will form the government. If it happens, it will be departure from post-Second World War tradition of two-party coalition governments. When the ruling coalition is formed, the partners will draft coalition agreement. It is in this agreement that the coalition partners will name new chancellor who will then be elected by vote in the parliament. Decrease in CDU/CSU vote share CDU/CSU bloc's vote share fell below 30 per cent for the first time in seven decades. Though Angela Merkel remains Germany's most popular politician, it remains to be seen whether her relative absence from campaigning had any effect on decrease in vote share. She had supported Armin Lachet to be Germany's next chancellor. Laschet even had high approval ratings months before election. But series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These include getting caught on camera laughing in a ceremony to honour those who lost lives in Germany's recent floods. In contrast, Olaf Scholz ran an error-free campaign that saw his approval ratings rise than what they were at the start of the race.

Not over till it's over: Gruelling coalition talks await post-Merkel Germany after polls

Germany's Social Democrats narrowly won Sunday's national election, projected results showed, and claimed a "clear mandate" to lead a government for the first time since 2005 and to end 16 years of conservative-led rule under Angela Merkel. Watch this report for more details.

German Social Democrats beat conservatives in vote to decide Merkel successor

The fight to succeed popular, long-serving chancellor Angela Merkel could barely be tighter as Germans go to the polls in parliamentary elections. Watch this report for more details.

Germany: Outcome uncertain, coalition government likely

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in&nbsp;federal (Bundestag) elections,&nbsp;all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor.

The contest, which once seemed clear, now appears to be close. So much so that Merkel, who had initially preferred to stay away from the campaign fray, had to enter the field to shore up ratings for her would-be successor Armin Laschet. This time the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats.

Here's a look at who is in the race to be next chancellor of Germany

Armin Laschet (Party: CDU/CSU)

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Armin Laschet (60) enjoys support from Angela Merkel to be the next chancellor of Germany. He is Merkel's party colleague within Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). He is Minister-President of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region.

Laschet's&nbsp;approval ratings were high in months leading to German election but series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These included getting caught on camera laughing in the background during a tribute to the victims of the recent devastating floods in Germany.

Merkel herself had to enter the campaign fray to shore-up support for her favoured candidate.

Olaf Scholz (Party: SPD)

<img alt="Olaf Scholz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd63303f-3f84-454c-95c8-1763f61ccb60" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NG2X2.jpg" />

Olaf Scholz (63) is the current vice-chacellor and finance minister of Germany. He belongs to Social Democratic Party (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD).

His approval ratings were low at the start of the race but rose as he avoided making embarrassing mistakes like Laschet.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/farewell-angela-merkel-you-were-once-the-leader-of-the-free-world-415832">Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World</a>

 
Annalena Baerbock (Green Party)

<img alt="Annalena Baerbock" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c16dedbc-e3be-497b-bafd-8ab648a10fe0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NG3D2.jpg" />

Annalena Baerbock is the chancellor candidate from Green Party. At one point, Baerbock even took lead as the most favourite candidate in opinion polls.

But after a series of missteps by Baerbock, including a plagiarism scandal, the Greens are now polling well behind the two leading parties on around 17 per cent.

While the chancellery may be out of reach for the party, it will likely have a role in Germany's next government.

How do German elections work?

<img alt="German elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4d4091d1-0dc3-4ed9-93c3-769c060c4f55" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NK273.jpg" />

Voters do not directly elect the chancellor. Elected members of the parliament decide who the chancellor will be from among them.

Each German voter has two votes. First vote decides who will represent a region in the parliament. Second vote elects the party and decides the makeup of the parliament. The party with the most votes gets to send more number of candidates to the parliament.

For example, if a party scores three direct seats through the first vote but is eligible for 10 seats overall through the second vote, seven more names on the party's candidate list (published before the elections)&nbsp;are also given seats. The candidate list published before the elections has candidates for each of the 16 states. Those higher on the list have better chance of securing a parliament seat.

A complication arises when the direct and party votes are out of balance because voters "split" their ballot. This happens when a voter votes for a candidate from a particular party but prefers a different party in his or her second vote.

This time, the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats as more voters are expected to split their votes.

This year, there are 47 political parties taking part in the elections.

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Opinion polls show the race for the chancellery is headed for a photo finish, with Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance on around 23 per cent, just behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 25 per cent -- well within the margin of error.

Who can vote?

Individuals above 18 years of age, having German citizenship and having lived in the country for an uninterrupted period of at least three months are eligible to vote. Mail-in vote is allowed for Germans living abroad.&nbsp;

People who hold German passports but haven't lived in Germany for more than 25 years cannot vote.

As per German government's statistics, 60.4 million Germans are eligible to vote this time. There are 2.8 million first time voters. These are the voters who do not remember any chancellor other than Angela Merkel.

Voter participation four years ago stood at 76.2 percent, up nearly five points from 2013 and higher than in many other Western democracies.

This year, 33 per cent of the candidates for the Bundestag, which ultimately elects the chancellor, are female -- a post-war record.

When will the result be known?

After voting concludes at 1600 GMT (9:30 pm IST) on September 26, counting of votes will begin. The counting will continue well into the night.

Provisional results are expected on the morning of September 27. But official results won't be published until several weeks later.&nbsp;

How did things stand after 2017 elections?

Here is where things stood after the 2017 election:

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU): 32.9 percent - 246 seats

Social Democratic Party (SPD): 20.5 percent - 153 seats

Alternative for Germany (AfD): 12.6 percent - 94 seats

Free Democrats (FDP): 10.7 percent - 80 seats

Die Linke: 9.2 percent - 69 seats

Greens: 8.9 percent - 67 seats

(With inputs from agencies)

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in federal (Bundestag) elections, all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor.

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in federal (Bundestag) elections, all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor. The contest, which once seemed clear, now appears to be close. So much so that Merkel, who had initially preferred to stay away from the campaign fray, had to enter the field to shore up ratings for her would-be successor Armin Laschet. This time the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats. Here's a look at who is in the race to be next chancellor of Germany Armin Laschet (Party: CDU/CSU) Armin Laschet (60) enjoys support from Angela Merkel to be the next chancellor of Germany. He is Merkel's party colleague within Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). He is Minister-President of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region. Laschet's approval ratings were high in months leading to German election but series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These included getting caught on camera laughing in the background during a tribute to the victims of the recent devastating floods in Germany. Merkel herself had to enter the campaign fray to shore-up support for her favoured candidate. Olaf Scholz (Party: SPD) Olaf Scholz (63) is the current vice-chacellor and finance minister of Germany. He belongs to Social Democratic Party (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD). His approval ratings were low at the start of the race but rose as he avoided making embarrassing mistakes like Laschet. Also Read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World Annalena Baerbock (Green Party) Annalena Baerbock is the chancellor candidate from Green Party. At one point, Baerbock even took lead as the most favourite candidate in opinion polls. But after a series of missteps by Baerbock, including a plagiarism scandal, the Greens are now polling well behind the two leading parties on around 17 per cent. While the chancellery may be out of reach for the party, it will likely have a role in Germany's next government. How do German elections work? Voters do not directly elect the chancellor. Elected members of the parliament decide who the chancellor will be from among them. Each German voter has two votes. First vote decides who will represent a region in the parliament. Second vote elects the party and decides the makeup of the parliament. The party with the most votes gets to send more number of candidates to the parliament. For example, if a party scores three direct seats through the first vote but is eligible for 10 seats overall through the second vote, seven more names on the party's candidate list (published before the elections) are also given seats. The candidate list published before the elections has candidates for each of the 16 states. Those higher on the list have better chance of securing a parliament seat. A complication arises when the direct and party votes are out of balance because voters "split" their ballot. This happens when a voter votes for a candidate from a particular party but prefers a different party in his or her second vote. This time, the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats as more voters are expected to split their votes. This year, there are 47 political parties taking part in the elections. × Opinion polls show the race for the chancellery is headed for a photo finish, with Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance on around 23 per cent, just behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 25 per cent -- well within the margin of error. Who can vote? Individuals above 18 years of age, having German citizenship and having lived in the country for an uninterrupted period of at least three months are eligible to vote. Mail-in vote is allowed for Germans living abroad. People who hold German passports but haven't lived in Germany for more than 25 years cannot vote. As per German government's statistics, 60.4 million Germans are eligible to vote this time. There are 2.8 million first time voters. These are the voters who do not remember any chancellor other than Angela Merkel. Voter participation four years ago stood at 76.2 percent, up nearly five points from 2013 and higher than in many other Western democracies. This year, 33 per cent of the candidates for the Bundestag, which ultimately elects the chancellor, are female -- a post-war record. When will the result be known? After voting concludes at 1600 GMT (9:30 pm IST) on September 26, counting of votes will begin. The counting will continue well into the night. Provisional results are expected on the morning of September 27. But official results won't be published until several weeks later. How did things stand after 2017 elections? Here is where things stood after the 2017 election: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU): 32.9 percent - 246 seats Social Democratic Party (SPD): 20.5 percent - 153 seats Alternative for Germany (AfD): 12.6 percent - 94 seats Free Democrats (FDP): 10.7 percent - 80 seats Die Linke: 9.2 percent - 69 seats Greens: 8.9 percent - 67 seats (With inputs from agencies)

German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor

Germans began voting in the national elections on Sunday in a tight race between Social Democrats (SPD) and Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance.

Olaf Scholz is heading the Social Democrat (SPD) while Merkel has backed Armin Laschet of the CDU-CSU.&nbsp;

Merkel had earlier announced she will be stepping down as Chancellor after the polls ending her reign which has lasted for sixteen years as Europe's most powerful economy enters a new phase.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-federal-elections-2021-what-you-need-to-know-about-race-to-become-chancellor-416151">German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race to become chancellor</a> 
 
Ahead of the elections, opinion polls suggested the elections were too close to call with Social Democrats just ahead by two points against the CDU-CSU alliance.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/germany-outcome-uncertain-coalition-government-likely-416057">Watch: Germany- Outcome uncertain, coalition government likely</a>

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Experts say the huge number of undecided voters may swing the results with 60 million eligible voters set to exercise their franchise.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-elections-angela-merkel-makes-final-push-for-successor-in-germanys-knife-edge-polls-416007">Also Read:&nbsp;Angela Merkel makes final push for successor in Germany's knife-edge polls</a>

Olaf Scholz, 63, is eying the top post even as Merkel's candidate Armin Laschet, 60, has dug for a pitched battle during the election campaign.

Merkel has been in power since 2005, however, the current polls are set to usher in a new leader as Europe emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-far-right-is-nowhere-in-the-election-but-its-here-to-stay-414856">Also Read:&nbsp;Germany’s far-right is nowhere in the election. But it’s ‘here to stay.’</a>

Experts suggest Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) may play a key role if neither the CDU-CSU nor the SPD gain enough seats even though Scholz said he was hoping his party along with the Greens will garner enough support to form the next government.

Scholz said, "The stronger the SPD, the easier it will be to form a coalition," while adding, "I don't know what will be possible but maybe it is possible for example to form an SPD-Greens coalition. I believe it is possible."

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;

Germans began voting in the national elections on Sunday in a tight race between Social Democrats (SPD) and Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance. Olaf Scholz is heading the Social Democrat (SPD) while Merkel has backed Armin Laschet of the CDU-CSU.

Germans began voting in the national elections on Sunday in a tight race between Social Democrats (SPD) and Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance. Olaf Scholz is heading the Social Democrat (SPD) while Merkel has backed Armin Laschet of the CDU-CSU. Merkel had earlier announced she will be stepping down as Chancellor after the polls ending her reign which has lasted for sixteen years as Europe's most powerful economy enters a new phase. Also Read | German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race to become chancellor Ahead of the elections, opinion polls suggested the elections were too close to call with Social Democrats just ahead by two points against the CDU-CSU alliance. Watch: Germany- Outcome uncertain, coalition government likely Experts say the huge number of undecided voters may swing the results with 60 million eligible voters set to exercise their franchise. Also Read: Angela Merkel makes final push for successor in Germany's knife-edge polls Olaf Scholz, 63, is eying the top post even as Merkel's candidate Armin Laschet, 60, has dug for a pitched battle during the election campaign. Merkel has been in power since 2005, however, the current polls are set to usher in a new leader as Europe emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. Also Read: Germany’s far-right is nowhere in the election. But it’s ‘here to stay.’ Experts suggest Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) may play a key role if neither the CDU-CSU nor the SPD gain enough seats even though Scholz said he was hoping his party along with the Greens will garner enough support to form the next government. Scholz said, "The stronger the SPD, the easier it will be to form a coalition," while adding, "I don't know what will be possible but maybe it is possible for example to form an SPD-Greens coalition. I believe it is possible." (With inputs from Agencies)

Polls open in Germany to elect new chancellor; SPD, CDU-CSU in tight race

In pictures: A look back at German Chancellor Angela Merkel's career 

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel will step down at the end of this year after serving 16 years as the head of Germany's government. Who will succeed her as the German chancellor?

Who will succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor? | WION English News

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to give her would-be successor Armin Laschet their vote to shape Germany's future, in a last-ditch push to shore up his beleaguered campaign 24 hours before Germans vote.

Laschet, 60, has been trailing his Social Democrat challenger Olaf Scholz in the race for the chancellery, although final polls put the gap between them within the margin of error, making the vote one of the most unpredictable in recent years. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/farewell-angela-merkel-you-were-once-the-leader-of-the-free-world-415832">Also read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World’</a>

Merkel had planned to keep a low profile in the election battle as she prepares to bow out of politics after 16 years in power. But she has found herself dragged into the frantic campaign schedule of the unpopular chairman of her party, Laschet. 
 
Watch | Gravitas US Edition: Memes &amp; memories — Merkel era ends in Germany

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In the last week of the campaign, Merkel took Laschet to her constituency by the Baltic coast and on Friday headlined the closing rally gathering the conservatives' bigwigs in Munich.

Merkel tugged at the heartstrings of Germany's predominantly older electorate on Friday, calling on them to keep her conservatives in power for the sake of stability -- a trademark of Germany.

A day before the vote, she travelled to Laschet's hometown and constituency, Aachen, a spa city near Germany's western border with Belgium and the Netherlands, where he was born and still lives.

"It is about your future, the future of your children and the future of your parents," she said at her last rally before the polls, urging strong mobilisation for her conservative alliance.

Climate high on agenda

She underlined that climate protection would be a key challenge of the next government, but that this would not be achieved "simply through rules and regulations.

"For that we need new technological developments, new procedures, researchers, interested people who think about how that can be done, and people who participate," she said.&nbsp;

Laschet is a "bridge-builder who will get people on board" in shaping Germany to meet those challenges, she said.

Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the streets on Friday urging change and greater climate protection, with a leading activist calling Sunday's election the vote "of a century".

On Saturday, Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg told a rally near Germany's Garzweiler mine, one of the biggest in Europe, that the elections "are not going to resolve the crisis, whatever the outcome".

"You're going to have to keep mobilising, organising and taking to the streets," she said.

With the clock ticking down to the election, Scholz was also staying close to home at the other end of the country to chase down last votes.

Taking questions from voters in his constituency of Potsdam -- a city on the outskirts of Berlin famous for its palaces that once housed Prussian kings, -- Scholz said he was fighting for "a major change in this country, a new government" led by him.&nbsp;

He also gave a glimpse of the future government he hopes to lead, saying that "perhaps it may be enough to, for instance, form a government between the SPD and the Greens".

Scholz, currently finance minister in Merkel's coalition government, has avoided making mistakes on the campaign trail, and largely won backing as he sold himself as the "continuity candidate" after Merkel in place of Laschet.

Described as capable but boring, Scholz has consistently beaten Laschet by wide margins when it comes to popularity.

'Could backfire'

As election day loomed, Laschet's conservatives were closing the gap, with one poll even putting them just one percentage point behind the SPD's 26 percent.

Laschet went into the race for the chancellery badly bruised by a tough battle for the conservatives' chancellor candidate nomination.

Nevertheless, his party enjoyed a substantial lead ahead of the SPD heading into the summer.

But Laschet was seen chuckling behind President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as he paid tribute to victims of deadly floods in July, an image that would drastically turn the mood against him and his party.

As polls showed the lead widening for the SPD, the conservatives turned to their greatest asset -- the still widely popular Merkel.

Yet roping in the chancellor is not without risks, said political analyst Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin's Free University.

"Merkel is still the most well-liked politician. But the joint appearances can become a problem for Laschet because they are then immediately compared to each other, " he said.

"And it could therefore backfire because people could then think that Merkel is more suitable than Laschet."

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to give her would-be successor Armin Laschet their vote to shape Germany's future, in a last-ditch push to shore up his beleaguered campaign 24 hours before Germans vote.

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to give her would-be successor Armin Laschet their vote to shape Germany's future, in a last-ditch push to shore up his beleaguered campaign 24 hours before Germans vote. Laschet, 60, has been trailing his Social Democrat challenger Olaf Scholz in the race for the chancellery, although final polls put the gap between them within the margin of error, making the vote one of the most unpredictable in recent years. Also read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World’ Merkel had planned to keep a low profile in the election battle as she prepares to bow out of politics after 16 years in power. But she has found herself dragged into the frantic campaign schedule of the unpopular chairman of her party, Laschet. Watch | Gravitas US Edition: Memes & memories — Merkel era ends in Germany In the last week of the campaign, Merkel took Laschet to her constituency by the Baltic coast and on Friday headlined the closing rally gathering the conservatives' bigwigs in Munich. Merkel tugged at the heartstrings of Germany's predominantly older electorate on Friday, calling on them to keep her conservatives in power for the sake of stability -- a trademark of Germany. A day before the vote, she travelled to Laschet's hometown and constituency, Aachen, a spa city near Germany's western border with Belgium and the Netherlands, where he was born and still lives. "It is about your future, the future of your children and the future of your parents," she said at her last rally before the polls, urging strong mobilisation for her conservative alliance. Climate high on agenda She underlined that climate protection would be a key challenge of the next government, but that this would not be achieved "simply through rules and regulations. "For that we need new technological developments, new procedures, researchers, interested people who think about how that can be done, and people who participate," she said. Laschet is a "bridge-builder who will get people on board" in shaping Germany to meet those challenges, she said. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the streets on Friday urging change and greater climate protection, with a leading activist calling Sunday's election the vote "of a century". On Saturday, Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg told a rally near Germany's Garzweiler mine, one of the biggest in Europe, that the elections "are not going to resolve the crisis, whatever the outcome". "You're going to have to keep mobilising, organising and taking to the streets," she said. With the clock ticking down to the election, Scholz was also staying close to home at the other end of the country to chase down last votes. Taking questions from voters in his constituency of Potsdam -- a city on the outskirts of Berlin famous for its palaces that once housed Prussian kings, -- Scholz said he was fighting for "a major change in this country, a new government" led by him. He also gave a glimpse of the future government he hopes to lead, saying that "perhaps it may be enough to, for instance, form a government between the SPD and the Greens". Scholz, currently finance minister in Merkel's coalition government, has avoided making mistakes on the campaign trail, and largely won backing as he sold himself as the "continuity candidate" after Merkel in place of Laschet. Described as capable but boring, Scholz has consistently beaten Laschet by wide margins when it comes to popularity. 'Could backfire' As election day loomed, Laschet's conservatives were closing the gap, with one poll even putting them just one percentage point behind the SPD's 26 percent. Laschet went into the race for the chancellery badly bruised by a tough battle for the conservatives' chancellor candidate nomination. Nevertheless, his party enjoyed a substantial lead ahead of the SPD heading into the summer. But Laschet was seen chuckling behind President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as he paid tribute to victims of deadly floods in July, an image that would drastically turn the mood against him and his party. As polls showed the lead widening for the SPD, the conservatives turned to their greatest asset -- the still widely popular Merkel. Yet roping in the chancellor is not without risks, said political analyst Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin's Free University. "Merkel is still the most well-liked politician. But the joint appearances can become a problem for Laschet because they are then immediately compared to each other, " he said. "And it could therefore backfire because people could then think that Merkel is more suitable than Laschet."

Germany elections: Angela Merkel makes final push for successor in Germany's knife-edge polls

After Germans vote Sunday and a new government is formed, Chancellor Angela Merkel will leave office after 16 years as the dominant figure in European politics. It is the moment that French President Emmanuel Macron has been waiting for.

The German chancellor, although credited for navigating multiple crises, was long criticized for lacking strategic vision. Macron, whose more swaggering style has sometimes ruffled his European partners — and Washington — has put forward ideas for a more independent and integrated Europe, better able to act in its own defense and its own interests.

But as the Anglo-American “betrayal” in the Australian submarine affair has underscored, Macron sometimes possesses ambitions beyond his reach. Despite the vacuum Merkel leaves, a Macron era is unlikely to be born.

Instead, analysts say, the European Union is heading for a period of prolonged uncertainty and potential weakness, if not necessarily drift. No one figure — not even Macron or a new German chancellor — will be as influential as Merkel was at her strongest: an authoritative, well-briefed leader who quietly managed compromise and built consensus among a long list of louder and more ideological colleagues.

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That raises the prospect of paralysis or of Europe muddling through its challenges — on what to do about an increasingly indifferent America, on China and Russia, and on trade and technology — or even of a more dangerous fracturing of the bloc’s always tentative unity.

And it will mean that Macron, who is up for reelection in April and absorbed in that uncertain campaign, will need to wait for a German government that may not be in place until January or longer, and then work closely with a weaker German chancellor.

“We’ll have a weak German chancellor on top of a larger, less unified coalition,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe of the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy. “A weaker chancellor is less capable of exerting influence in Europe, and then with the Macron election, the political cycles of these two key countries will not be in sync.”

The uncertainty is likely to last until after the French parliamentary elections in June — and that is presuming Macron wins.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-gunman-in-deadly-mass-shooting-at-kroger-in-tennessee-identified-as-29-year-old-store-vendor-415830">US: Gunman in deadly mass shooting at Kroger in Tennessee, identified as 29-year-old store vendor</a>

Macron has argued forcefully that Europe must do more to protect its own interests in a world where China is rising and the United States is focusing on Asia. His officials are already trying to prepare the ground on some key issues, looking forward to January, when France takes over the rotating EU presidency. But given the likelihood of lengthy coalition talks in Germany, the window for accomplishment is narrow.

Macron will need German help. While France and Germany together can no longer run the European Union by themselves, when they agree, they tend to bring the rest of the bloc along with them.

So building a relationship with the new German chancellor, even a weaker one, will be a primary goal for Macron. He must be careful, noted Daniela Schwarzer, executive director for Europe and Eurasia of the Open Societies Foundations, not to scare off the Germans.

“Macron’s leadership is disruptive, and the German style is to change institutions incrementally,” she said. “Both sides will need to think through how they make it possible for the other side to answer constructively.”

French officials understand that substantive change will be slow, and they will want to build on initiatives already underway, like the analysis of Europe’s interests called “the strategic compass” and a modest but steady increase in military spending on new capabilities through the new European Defense Fund and a program called Pesco, intended to promote joint projects and European interoperability.

After the humiliation of the scuttled submarine deal, when Australia suddenly canceled a contract with France and chose a deal with Britain and the United States instead, many of his European colleagues are more likely now to agree with Macron that Europe must be less dependent on Washington and spend at least a little more in its own defense.

Few in Europe, though, want to permanently damage ties with the Americans and NATO.

“Italy wants a stronger Europe, OK, but in NATO — we’re not on the French page on that,” said Marta Dassu, a former Italian deputy foreign minister and director of European affairs at the Aspen Institute.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose voice is respected in Brussels, believes strongly in the trans-Atlantic relationship, Dassu said, adding, “We’re closer to Germany than to France, but without all the ambiguities on Russia and China.”

France also wants to become more assertive using the economic and financial tools Europe already has, especially trade and technology, the officials say. The point, they say, is not to push too hard too fast, but to raise the European game vis-à-vis China and the United States, and try to encourage a culture that is comfortable with power.

But France’s German partners will be going through a period of uncertainty and transition. A new German chancellor is expected to win only one-quarter of the vote and may need to negotiate a coalition agreement among three political parties. That is expected to take at least until Christmas, if not longer.

The new chancellor will also need to get up to speed on European issues, which barely surfaced in the campaign, and build credibility as the newcomer among 26 other leaders.

“So it’s important now to start thinking of concrete French-German wins during a French presidency that Macron can use in a positive way in his campaign,” Schwarzer said. “Because Berlin does not want to ponder a scenario in which Macron loses” to far-right Marine Le Pen or in which euroskeptics like Matteo Salvini take over in Italy.

Whoever wins, German policy toward Europe will remain roughly the same from a country deeply committed to EU ideals, cautious and wanting to preserve stability and unity. The real question is whether any European leader can be the cohesive force Merkel was — and if not, what it will mean for the continent’s future.

“Merkel herself was important in keeping the EU together,” said Ulrich Speck of the German Marshall Fund. “She kept in mind the interests of so many in Europe, especially Central Europe but also Italy, so that everyone could be kept on board.”

Merkel saw the European Union as the core of her policy, said a senior European official, who called her the guardian of true EU values, willing to bend to keep the bloc together, as evidenced by her support for collective debt, previously a German red line, to fund the coronavirus recovery fund.

“Merkel acted as mediator when there have been a lot of centrifugal forces weakening Europe,” said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, head of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund. “It’s less clear how the next chancellor will position himself or herself and Germany.”

Still, Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that “whoever is the chancellor, Germany is still responsible for more than half of Chinese trade with Europe.” Germany is “vastly more important than the other countries on all the big issues, from how to handle China to the tech wars and climate change,” he said.

That means Macron “knows he has to channel German power behind his vision,” he said.

But French and Italian positions will be crucial, too, on important pending financial issues like fiscal and banking integration, trying to complete the single market and monitoring the pandemic recovery fund.

Merkel’s departure may provide an opportunity for the kinds of change Macron desires, even if in vastly scaled-down version. Merkel’s love of the status quo, some analysts argue, was anachronistic at a time when Europe faces so many challenges.

Perhaps most important is the looming debate about whether to alter Europe’s spending rules, which in practical terms means getting agreement from countries to spend more on everything, from defense to climate.

The real problem is that fundamental change would require a treaty change, said Guntram Wolff, director of Bruegel, a Brussels research institution. “You can’t have fiscal and defense integration by stealth,” he said. “It won’t have legitimacy and won’t be accepted by citizens.”

But the German election debates ignored these broad issues, he said.

“The sad news,” Wolff said, “is that none of the three chancellor candidates campaigned on any of this, so my baseline expectation is continued muddling forward.”

After Germans vote Sunday and a new government is formed, Chancellor Angela Merkel will leave office after 16 years as the dominant figure in European politics. It is the moment that French President Emmanuel Macron has been waiting for.

After Germans vote Sunday and a new government is formed, Chancellor Angela Merkel will leave office after 16 years as the dominant figure in European politics. It is the moment that French President Emmanuel Macron has been waiting for. The German chancellor, although credited for navigating multiple crises, was long criticized for lacking strategic vision. Macron, whose more swaggering style has sometimes ruffled his European partners — and Washington — has put forward ideas for a more independent and integrated Europe, better able to act in its own defense and its own interests. But as the Anglo-American “betrayal” in the Australian submarine affair has underscored, Macron sometimes possesses ambitions beyond his reach. Despite the vacuum Merkel leaves, a Macron era is unlikely to be born. Instead, analysts say, the European Union is heading for a period of prolonged uncertainty and potential weakness, if not necessarily drift. No one figure — not even Macron or a new German chancellor — will be as influential as Merkel was at her strongest: an authoritative, well-briefed leader who quietly managed compromise and built consensus among a long list of louder and more ideological colleagues. ALSO READ | Developing countries to soon receive their long-promised funds for tackling climate crisis That raises the prospect of paralysis or of Europe muddling through its challenges — on what to do about an increasingly indifferent America, on China and Russia, and on trade and technology — or even of a more dangerous fracturing of the bloc’s always tentative unity. And it will mean that Macron, who is up for reelection in April and absorbed in that uncertain campaign, will need to wait for a German government that may not be in place until January or longer, and then work closely with a weaker German chancellor. “We’ll have a weak German chancellor on top of a larger, less unified coalition,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe of the Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy. “A weaker chancellor is less capable of exerting influence in Europe, and then with the Macron election, the political cycles of these two key countries will not be in sync.” The uncertainty is likely to last until after the French parliamentary elections in June — and that is presuming Macron wins. ALSO READ | US: Gunman in deadly mass shooting at Kroger in Tennessee, identified as 29-year-old store vendor Macron has argued forcefully that Europe must do more to protect its own interests in a world where China is rising and the United States is focusing on Asia. His officials are already trying to prepare the ground on some key issues, looking forward to January, when France takes over the rotating EU presidency. But given the likelihood of lengthy coalition talks in Germany, the window for accomplishment is narrow. Macron will need German help. While France and Germany together can no longer run the European Union by themselves, when they agree, they tend to bring the rest of the bloc along with them. So building a relationship with the new German chancellor, even a weaker one, will be a primary goal for Macron. He must be careful, noted Daniela Schwarzer, executive director for Europe and Eurasia of the Open Societies Foundations, not to scare off the Germans. “Macron’s leadership is disruptive, and the German style is to change institutions incrementally,” she said. “Both sides will need to think through how they make it possible for the other side to answer constructively.” French officials understand that substantive change will be slow, and they will want to build on initiatives already underway, like the analysis of Europe’s interests called “the strategic compass” and a modest but steady increase in military spending on new capabilities through the new European Defense Fund and a program called Pesco, intended to promote joint projects and European interoperability. After the humiliation of the scuttled submarine deal, when Australia suddenly canceled a contract with France and chose a deal with Britain and the United States instead, many of his European colleagues are more likely now to agree with Macron that Europe must be less dependent on Washington and spend at least a little more in its own defense. Few in Europe, though, want to permanently damage ties with the Americans and NATO. “Italy wants a stronger Europe, OK, but in NATO — we’re not on the French page on that,” said Marta Dassu, a former Italian deputy foreign minister and director of European affairs at the Aspen Institute. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose voice is respected in Brussels, believes strongly in the trans-Atlantic relationship, Dassu said, adding, “We’re closer to Germany than to France, but without all the ambiguities on Russia and China.” France also wants to become more assertive using the economic and financial tools Europe already has, especially trade and technology, the officials say. The point, they say, is not to push too hard too fast, but to raise the European game vis-à-vis China and the United States, and try to encourage a culture that is comfortable with power. But France’s German partners will be going through a period of uncertainty and transition. A new German chancellor is expected to win only one-quarter of the vote and may need to negotiate a coalition agreement among three political parties. That is expected to take at least until Christmas, if not longer. The new chancellor will also need to get up to speed on European issues, which barely surfaced in the campaign, and build credibility as the newcomer among 26 other leaders. “So it’s important now to start thinking of concrete French-German wins during a French presidency that Macron can use in a positive way in his campaign,” Schwarzer said. “Because Berlin does not want to ponder a scenario in which Macron loses” to far-right Marine Le Pen or in which euroskeptics like Matteo Salvini take over in Italy. Whoever wins, German policy toward Europe will remain roughly the same from a country deeply committed to EU ideals, cautious and wanting to preserve stability and unity. The real question is whether any European leader can be the cohesive force Merkel was — and if not, what it will mean for the continent’s future. “Merkel herself was important in keeping the EU together,” said Ulrich Speck of the German Marshall Fund. “She kept in mind the interests of so many in Europe, especially Central Europe but also Italy, so that everyone could be kept on board.” Merkel saw the European Union as the core of her policy, said a senior European official, who called her the guardian of true EU values, willing to bend to keep the bloc together, as evidenced by her support for collective debt, previously a German red line, to fund the coronavirus recovery fund. “Merkel acted as mediator when there have been a lot of centrifugal forces weakening Europe,” said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, head of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund. “It’s less clear how the next chancellor will position himself or herself and Germany.” Still, Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that “whoever is the chancellor, Germany is still responsible for more than half of Chinese trade with Europe.” Germany is “vastly more important than the other countries on all the big issues, from how to handle China to the tech wars and climate change,” he said. That means Macron “knows he has to channel German power behind his vision,” he said. But French and Italian positions will be crucial, too, on important pending financial issues like fiscal and banking integration, trying to complete the single market and monitoring the pandemic recovery fund. Merkel’s departure may provide an opportunity for the kinds of change Macron desires, even if in vastly scaled-down version. Merkel’s love of the status quo, some analysts argue, was anachronistic at a time when Europe faces so many challenges. Perhaps most important is the looming debate about whether to alter Europe’s spending rules, which in practical terms means getting agreement from countries to spend more on everything, from defense to climate. The real problem is that fundamental change would require a treaty change, said Guntram Wolff, director of Bruegel, a Brussels research institution. “You can’t have fiscal and defense integration by stealth,” he said. “It won’t have legitimacy and won’t be accepted by citizens.” But the German election debates ignored these broad issues, he said. “The sad news,” Wolff said, “is that none of the three chancellor candidates campaigned on any of this, so my baseline expectation is continued muddling forward.”

Can Macron lead the European Union after Merkel retires?

Chancellor of Germany. Leader of Europe. Feminist Icon. Angela Merkel wore many hats during her 16 years in power. Palki Sharma looks back at the life and career of 'Europe's Empress'.

Gravitas US Edition: Memes & memories: Merkel era ends in Germany

In central Berlin, a giant billboard shows a pair of hands, arranged in the shape of a diamond, in front of a female torso dressed in a green jacket. “Tschüss Mutti,” the billboard reads. “Bye, bye, Mommy.”

Even without a face, Germans know who’s being depicted. The diamond, the colorful jacket and the word “Mutti” are iconic, just like Angela Merkel herself.

After 16 years, Germany is saying “Tschüss” to its longtime chancellor. Across the country, the departure of Ms. Merkel has brought out affectionate nostalgia, tinged with a drop of irony. Yet there’s also fatigue, verging on irritation, a twitchy restlessness to see her off and start afresh. As with most farewells, feelings are mixed.

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For Ms. Merkel, a leader who never sought acclaim, a low-key, almost ambivalent exit feels fitting. But it also reveals an irony about her rule. The qualities that ensured her success — her caution and consistency, her firmness and diligence — are now, at the end of her tenure, leading some to regard her departure with relief. The Germany Ms. Merkel made, in nearly two decades of steady stewardship, is ready to move on.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-far-right-is-nowhere-in-the-election-but-its-here-to-stay-414856">Germany’s far-right is nowhere in the election. But it’s ‘here to stay.’</a>

For all her calm, Ms. Merkel’s time in charge has not been without tumult. She steered Germany through a series of crises — the financial crash in 2008, the euro debt crisis that followed, the migration crisis of 2015 and, of course, the pandemic. She brokered a truce, albeit a brittle one, between Russia and Ukraine, helped to negotiate Brexit and saw Donald Trump come and go. Each event had the potential to sunder the world. In part thanks to Ms. Merkel, none did.

Her role in these crises continues to be debated. Many progressives maintain that her austerity policies have done more harm than good, and many conservatives believe she should have closed Germany’s borders to migrants in 2015. The overall verdict, though, is unlikely to change. Under great pressure, Ms. Merkel was a conservative in the best sense, retaining the country’s prosperity, cohesion and purpose. Her great achievement was not what she built, but what she managed to keep.

Yet preservation can quickly turn to stagnation. Many of Ms. Merkel’s policies that had an initially stabilizing effect carried hidden long-term costs. And at the very moment she is about to leave office, that’s starting to show. Her “sins of omission” — as a British historian and Germany expert, Timothy Garton Ash, put it to me — are becoming painfully obvious.

Take Europe. Across nearly two decades, Ms. Merkel played an outsize role in guiding the union through a succession of challenges. But in the process, she stored up future problems.

In 2016, for example, the chancellor spearheaded a deal with Turkey to take in refugees. The move ended the yearlong migration crisis, in which more than a million migrants claimed asylum in Europe. But it’s hardly a sustainable solution, neither for Turkey — where economic difficulties and growing numbers of refugees threaten to destabilize the country — nor for Europe. Migrants, especially after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country, will continue to seek refuge on the continent. Some workable solution, attentive to the needs of both migrants and citizens, must be found.

In other areas, too, Ms. Merkel’s approach fell short. Her handling of the euro debt crisis helped secure the future of the bloc, but at the cost of leaving the underlying dynamics — overindebted southern countries and an unbalanced monetary union — untouched. Her conciliatory approach to Russia, not least over the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, looks ever more untenable as President Vladimir Putin ruthlessly consolidates his regime.

And while her inclination to avoid censuring Hungary and Poland for their breaches of the rule of law protected the bloc against disintegration, it sidestepped essential questions about the character of Europe. In Ms. Merkel’s absence, European leaders — including Germany’s next chancellor, whoever that is — will need to determine the bloc’s future course. How will it navigate the increased rivalry between America and China? To what extent will it embark on a more autonomous defense strategy? And how will it combat the rise of the far right?

At home, a similar pattern prevailed. Look at the economy. Yes, Germany’s export surplus came to an all-time high during Ms. Merkel’s tenure, and G.D.P. reached a record high in 2019. But it has come at the cost of an increased — some say excessive — dependence on the Chinese market, something Ms. Merkel has done little to address. What’s more, by shielding Germany’s car industry from more ambitious carbon-emission goals, Ms. Merkel has in effect exonerated managers from the need to innovate. That’s one reason German car companies are scrambling to keep up with their American and Chinese counterparts.

Then there’s climate change. Trying to protect key industries and fearing to impose too much change on voters, Ms. Merkel refrained from any far-reaching plan to cut emissions until late in her tenure. And though the share of renewable energy grew to 45 percent during her time in office, many experts agree that on its current trajectory, the country will not meet its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2045. Despite being seen abroad as the “climate chancellor,” Ms. Merkel has taken only very minor steps toward confronting the defining issue of our time.

It all adds up to a country at once cozy and cosseted, ignorant of the dangers waiting in the wings. Ursula Weidenfeld, an economics journalist and the author of a recent biography of the chancellor, has likened Ms. Merkel’s Germany to the Shire in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” Peaceful and prosperous, soothingly old-fashioned, self-satisfied to the point of delusion and naïve in a likable yet unnerving way: The analogy is apt.

Ms. Merkel protected the Shire, which is what Germans expected of her and why she won four national elections in a row. But in doing so, she fostered its peculiar detachment from the world and its unwillingness to change, innovate or even discuss different ways forward.

The chancellor also became stuck in her ways. Humble and unpretentious, she saw herself as a servant to her country. But in return for her service, dedication and competence, she came to expect — demand, even — blind trust. She has grown increasingly impatient with the forever chatter of Germany’s political class.

Her famous phrase during the migration crisis — “We can do this” — was to some a welcome dose of optimism. But to others, not least in her own party, it was a decree, a royal diktat from above silencing opposition and curtailing debate. Perhaps that tendency hardened over time. Ahead one of the endless meetings with Germany’s 16 governors during the pandemic’s first wave in 2020, she reportedly complained about the “orgies of debates on reopening the country.”

It was an unusual outburst, one that underscored a growing unease about her methods and her achievements. After all, the pandemic exposed Germany’s lack of digital services, the need to modernize its public health service and the vulnerability of the economy’s supply chains. The floods in July, in which over 200 people lost their lives, were a tragic reminder that Germany will not be spared the perils of climate change. Against this backdrop, the prospect of change — no matter how familiar the candidates — has become more appealing.

Just a couple of years ago, Ms. Merkel was garlanded as the “leader of the free world.” Against the chaos and disruption of Mr. Trump, her sober, judicious style was widely envied. Now, in a twist of history, different qualities are wanted. I’m pretty sure there will be many moments in the not-too-distant future when Germans will painfully miss Angela Merkel. And yet: It is time. Tschüss Mutti.

In central Berlin, a giant billboard shows a pair of hands, arranged in the shape of a diamond, in front of a female torso dressed in a green jacket. “Tschüss Mutti,” the billboard reads.

In central Berlin, a giant billboard shows a pair of hands, arranged in the shape of a diamond, in front of a female torso dressed in a green jacket. “Tschüss Mutti,” the billboard reads. “Bye, bye, Mommy.” Even without a face, Germans know who’s being depicted. The diamond, the colorful jacket and the word “Mutti” are iconic, just like Angela Merkel herself. After 16 years, Germany is saying “Tschüss” to its longtime chancellor. Across the country, the departure of Ms. Merkel has brought out affectionate nostalgia, tinged with a drop of irony. Yet there’s also fatigue, verging on irritation, a twitchy restlessness to see her off and start afresh. As with most farewells, feelings are mixed. × For Ms. Merkel, a leader who never sought acclaim, a low-key, almost ambivalent exit feels fitting. But it also reveals an irony about her rule. The qualities that ensured her success — her caution and consistency, her firmness and diligence — are now, at the end of her tenure, leading some to regard her departure with relief. The Germany Ms. Merkel made, in nearly two decades of steady stewardship, is ready to move on. Also Read | Germany’s far-right is nowhere in the election. But it’s ‘here to stay.’ For all her calm, Ms. Merkel’s time in charge has not been without tumult. She steered Germany through a series of crises — the financial crash in 2008, the euro debt crisis that followed, the migration crisis of 2015 and, of course, the pandemic. She brokered a truce, albeit a brittle one, between Russia and Ukraine, helped to negotiate Brexit and saw Donald Trump come and go. Each event had the potential to sunder the world. In part thanks to Ms. Merkel, none did. Her role in these crises continues to be debated. Many progressives maintain that her austerity policies have done more harm than good, and many conservatives believe she should have closed Germany’s borders to migrants in 2015. The overall verdict, though, is unlikely to change. Under great pressure, Ms. Merkel was a conservative in the best sense, retaining the country’s prosperity, cohesion and purpose. Her great achievement was not what she built, but what she managed to keep. Yet preservation can quickly turn to stagnation. Many of Ms. Merkel’s policies that had an initially stabilizing effect carried hidden long-term costs. And at the very moment she is about to leave office, that’s starting to show. Her “sins of omission” — as a British historian and Germany expert, Timothy Garton Ash, put it to me — are becoming painfully obvious. Take Europe. Across nearly two decades, Ms. Merkel played an outsize role in guiding the union through a succession of challenges. But in the process, she stored up future problems. In 2016, for example, the chancellor spearheaded a deal with Turkey to take in refugees. The move ended the yearlong migration crisis, in which more than a million migrants claimed asylum in Europe. But it’s hardly a sustainable solution, neither for Turkey — where economic difficulties and growing numbers of refugees threaten to destabilize the country — nor for Europe. Migrants, especially after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country, will continue to seek refuge on the continent. Some workable solution, attentive to the needs of both migrants and citizens, must be found. In other areas, too, Ms. Merkel’s approach fell short. Her handling of the euro debt crisis helped secure the future of the bloc, but at the cost of leaving the underlying dynamics — overindebted southern countries and an unbalanced monetary union — untouched. Her conciliatory approach to Russia, not least over the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, looks ever more untenable as President Vladimir Putin ruthlessly consolidates his regime. And while her inclination to avoid censuring Hungary and Poland for their breaches of the rule of law protected the bloc against disintegration, it sidestepped essential questions about the character of Europe. In Ms. Merkel’s absence, European leaders — including Germany’s next chancellor, whoever that is — will need to determine the bloc’s future course. How will it navigate the increased rivalry between America and China? To what extent will it embark on a more autonomous defense strategy? And how will it combat the rise of the far right? At home, a similar pattern prevailed. Look at the economy. Yes, Germany’s export surplus came to an all-time high during Ms. Merkel’s tenure, and G.D.P. reached a record high in 2019. But it has come at the cost of an increased — some say excessive — dependence on the Chinese market, something Ms. Merkel has done little to address. What’s more, by shielding Germany’s car industry from more ambitious carbon-emission goals, Ms. Merkel has in effect exonerated managers from the need to innovate. That’s one reason German car companies are scrambling to keep up with their American and Chinese counterparts. Then there’s climate change. Trying to protect key industries and fearing to impose too much change on voters, Ms. Merkel refrained from any far-reaching plan to cut emissions until late in her tenure. And though the share of renewable energy grew to 45 percent during her time in office, many experts agree that on its current trajectory, the country will not meet its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2045. Despite being seen abroad as the “climate chancellor,” Ms. Merkel has taken only very minor steps toward confronting the defining issue of our time. It all adds up to a country at once cozy and cosseted, ignorant of the dangers waiting in the wings. Ursula Weidenfeld, an economics journalist and the author of a recent biography of the chancellor, has likened Ms. Merkel’s Germany to the Shire in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” Peaceful and prosperous, soothingly old-fashioned, self-satisfied to the point of delusion and naïve in a likable yet unnerving way: The analogy is apt. Ms. Merkel protected the Shire, which is what Germans expected of her and why she won four national elections in a row. But in doing so, she fostered its peculiar detachment from the world and its unwillingness to change, innovate or even discuss different ways forward. The chancellor also became stuck in her ways. Humble and unpretentious, she saw herself as a servant to her country. But in return for her service, dedication and competence, she came to expect — demand, even — blind trust. She has grown increasingly impatient with the forever chatter of Germany’s political class. Her famous phrase during the migration crisis — “We can do this” — was to some a welcome dose of optimism. But to others, not least in her own party, it was a decree, a royal diktat from above silencing opposition and curtailing debate. Perhaps that tendency hardened over time. Ahead one of the endless meetings with Germany’s 16 governors during the pandemic’s first wave in 2020, she reportedly complained about the “orgies of debates on reopening the country.” It was an unusual outburst, one that underscored a growing unease about her methods and her achievements. After all, the pandemic exposed Germany’s lack of digital services, the need to modernize its public health service and the vulnerability of the economy’s supply chains. The floods in July, in which over 200 people lost their lives, were a tragic reminder that Germany will not be spared the perils of climate change. Against this backdrop, the prospect of change — no matter how familiar the candidates — has become more appealing. Just a couple of years ago, Ms. Merkel was garlanded as the “leader of the free world.” Against the chaos and disruption of Mr. Trump, her sober, judicious style was widely envied. Now, in a twist of history, different qualities are wanted. I’m pretty sure there will be many moments in the not-too-distant future when Germans will painfully miss Angela Merkel. And yet: It is time. Tschüss Mutti.

Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World’

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