Honoring the former chancellor: highest order for Merkel

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel will be honored today with the highest possible award in Germany. A look back at her accomplishments and what set her apart from many politicians.

It’s quite possible that Angela Merkel will accept the Order of Merit with these words: “It’s a real pleasure and a surprise.” This is above all typical Merkel euphoria. More is not possible – at least not publicly. Joy, anger, indignation – any kind of emotional outburst is foreign to her.

For 16 years she ruled the republic as unpretentiously as possible. This can definitely be seen as a merit. Nothing was further from her mind than pomp and glamour. Merkel was different from all chancellors before her, says Gregor Gysi, who has known her for a long time. “She’s not interested in material at all, that’s rare. It’s usually different with men.”

Speaking of men: the fact that Merkel was the first woman to hold the chancellorship is also a kind of merit. She serves – even if she certainly never wanted to – as a role model. “What men can do, she can do as well, even as an East German woman, which is not unimportant,” said Gysi.

Little visionary in 16 years of Chancellorship

An East German in the Chancellery – that too is a credit, although Merkel didn’t make the landscapes in the East bloom either. In general, not much visionary flourished and sprouted in Merkel’s 16 years.

In hindsight, her reputation has suffered – mainly because of her Russia policy. She has stuck with Nord Stream 2 for a long time – today she is blamed for that as a mistake. Merkel relies on cheap gas from Russia instead of expanding renewable energies. Climate protection, but also digitization and equality will wither away in 16 years Merkel. She reigns without great goals. Politics just happens to her.

“I believe that a quality of leadership in the 21st century must be that you sometimes try to remain silent, that you sometimes say: Please wait, I don’t have a final opinion on this yet,” Merkel said.

No loud power words, no basta roar

The completed opinion is often a long time coming. It was her management style – according to the motto: strength lies in calm. No loud power words, no basta roar. Merkel radiates inner serenity and therefore strength.

This became clear during the 2008 banking crisis, when she promised that the savings of the Germans would be safe. People trust her. She stands for stability. 16 years as chancellor, four governments, two coalition partners, 13 SPD chairmen – Merkel was the constant in the chancellery and also in Europe.

It was there that she probably earned the greatest merit. In Brussels, the chancellor is respectfully called a “compromise machine” by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others. “When you speak in the European Council, you can hear a pin drop,” said Rutte.

A heart for refugees

Merkel’s word carried weight. It is also thanks to them that Europe survived the euro and financial crisis to some extent without major scratches. In Germany, Merkel allows marriage for everyone and above all shows a heart for refugees. Not everyone would give her a medal for that. Perhaps she selected her guests for the reception at Bellevue Palace accordingly. All long-time confidants – no Merz, no Söder and no Seehofer.