The Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who was sworn in as Germany’s new Chancellor on Wednesday (December 8), will be accompanied by his Foreign Minister Green’s co-leader Annalena Baerbock Next, began a series of inaugural visits in Europe. EURACTIV report in Germany.
Scholz said on Tuesday that the future Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party and the liberals, the “traffic light” alliance of the business-friendly FDP intends to build on the country’s previous efforts to build a “strong, sovereign and open EU.” .
On Friday, Scholz will travel to France to discuss the next steps in EU policy.
The German Chancellery announced on Wednesday: “The first visit of Chancellor Schultz to the country reflects the close relations and friendship between Germany and France.”
“We will write the next chapter together. For the French, for the Germans, for the Europeans. See you on Friday!” Shortly after Schultz was sworn in, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter road.
Cher @OlafScholz, la Suite, nous l’écrirons ensemble. Pour les Français, pour les Allemands, pour les Européens. Àvendredi! We will write a chapter together. For the French, for the Germans, for the Europeans. See you on Friday!
-Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 8, 2021
A press conference will be held on Thursday, and Macron intends to present his views on the European Union before the incoming French president of the European Council. The French leader is also expected to resolve the ambitious EU reform proposals contained in the German alliance agreement reached by the three parties.
Some of these recommendations include strengthening the powers of the European Parliament and taking stronger action against violations of the rule of law by EU countries such as Poland and Hungary. Another feature of the alliance agreement is the goal of establishing a mature European Union.
Schultz’s next stop on Friday will be Brussels, where he will meet with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Lein and the President of the European Council Charles Michel to prepare for the EU summit next week. Also meet with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
At the same time, the new German Foreign Minister Annalena Belbok has traveled to France on Wednesday. This is her first trip abroad in her new position. Her new department announced that it plans to meet with French colleague Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday morning.
On Thursday afternoon, Balbok will meet with Schultz in Brussels and is reportedly planning to hold talks in Brussels with EU chief diplomat Jose Puborel and NATO’s Stoltenberg. Belbok will continue her trip on Friday and will meet Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Law in Warsaw.
Disagreement on ability
Although Baerbock has arranged many visits, the first conflict in the distribution of powers in foreign affairs and EU policy has become apparent.
Although the Green Party requires the Ministry of Foreign Affairs they hold to take the lead on the foreign policy agenda, the Social Democrats want leadership in the Prime Minister’s Office.
In an interview with the public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, Rolf Mützenich, the leader of the SPD parliamentary caucus, emphasized that foreign policy is “specially guided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Only one semester?
On Wednesday morning, the Bundestag supported Schultz as Chancellor of Germany with 395 votes. After President Frank-Waltersteinmeier was sworn in, Angela Merkel handed over government power to Schultz in the afternoon, marking the official end of her 16-year ruling career.
Despite the difficult negotiation situation and sometimes serious differences in party platforms, the joint negotiations ended relatively quickly—even faster than the previous two government formations.
Although the Liberal Democratic Party and the Green Party are confident that the alliance will continue into the next legislative period, the attitude of the German people is even more critical.
According to a YouGov poll, two-thirds of Germans believe that Scholz’s term will not exceed four years, and 20% of respondents believe that the Social Democratic Party-led coalition will even disintegrate before the next federal election.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
