In Germany, Social Democrats Give Merkel a Fourth Term
By Ashish Kumar Sen
The political uncertainty that had gripped Germany for the past five months was lifted on March 4. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) rank-and-file voted in favor of another grand coalition that would keep Angela Merkel chancellor of Germany for a fourth term. Sixty-six percent of the SPD’s members voted in support of a grand coalition; thirty-four percent opposed it.
Here’s a snapshot of reactions.
French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to welcome the news.
“It’s good news for Europe,” Macron’s office said in a statement, according to Reuters.
“France and Germany will work together on new initiatives in the coming weeks to bring the European project forward,” it added.
That sentiment was echoed in Germany. Peter Altmaeir, Merkel’s chief of staff, tweeted: “Let’s get to work! Germany and Europe.”
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, secretary general of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), tweeted:
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström tweeted:
Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, had this sobering assessment of the challenges Merkel will face:
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is now the largest opposition party in the German Bundestag, described the SPD’s vote as a “catastrophe” for Germany.
And here’s a look at the coalitions that have kept Merkel in power:
Ashish Kumar Sen is deputy director of communications at the Atlantic Council. Follow him on Twitter Ashish Sen.
