Berlin Cable

The Underwhelming Scholz Government Meets an Untimely End

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The break-up of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ coalition government was expected, but is still taking place at an extremely critical time. Its successor will have to set clearer priorities—and find greater fiscal space.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Waiting for Christian

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The pro-business Free Democrats are likely to leave the government early. It may be party leader—and finance minister—Christian Lindner’s last consequential mistake for a while.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

The Self-Declared “Stability Anchor” Looks Adrift

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Politically, the Scholz government seems finished, even if it manages to drag on for another year. Germany, which derived much of its foreign policy stance from its seemingly unshakable “stability,” does not look so stable all of a sudden.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Berlin’s Holiday (from History) Mood

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Germany is spending the summer trying to temporarily ignore the situation in Ukraine. That’s likely to backfire. Rather, the German government and the rest of Europe should signal stronger, not weaker, support for Ukraine.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Germany’s Toxic Far Right

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Scandals have only dented, but not eroded support for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland. In September, the party could come close to political power at the regional level. The case for banning it is getting stronger.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

From Beijing to Kyiv

With his second visit to Beijing to see Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz set himself up for a failure. In contrast, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, when visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky three days later, had a firmer grasp of realities.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Trouble at the Top

It’s not much of a secret that Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz are very different characters. Their deepening rift is damaging the Franco-German relationship—and Europe.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

On the Wrong Track

The German government has straightjacketed itself by a return to the “debt brake,” pursuing a stringent fiscal policy at a time when the country is trying to fight its way of out a recession. Two of three ruling parties think the approach is wrongheaded.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Into the Unknown

2024 will likely test Germany when it comes to its two most important defense and security tasks: helping Ukraine and improving the Bundeswehr.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Germany’s “Plumbers of Power” Lack Far-Sightedness

Just before passing its halfway mark, the coalition government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been hitting the financial buffers. Sadly, a general fiscal rethink is unlikely.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Squaring the Circle

Germany has strongly sided with Israel in the aftermath of the brutal attack by Hamas, and for good reasons. However, this poses questions for German foreign policy that will be difficult to address.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date

Germany Should Reengage with a United Kingdom in Flux

Seven years after the Brexit vote shocked Germany, it’s time for the two countries to rediscover common ground. Unfortunately, Berlin is sitting on its hands.

Author/s
Dr. Henning Hoff
IPQ
Berlin Cable
Creation date