For the 70th birthday - Habeck praises former Chancellor Merkel for her "normality in perfection"
16 years, Angela Merkel shaped Germany as Federal Chancellor – now she turns 70. On her round birthday on July 17, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck paid rich respect to his political opponent.
Merkel stood for stability as head of government, wrote Habeck in a guest article for the magazine "Rolling Stone." Her own party kept her in the center for more than 16 years and made her immune to the temptation of right-wing populism. "What one cannot say unconditionally about the time after her," distributed the Economic Minister to the current Union leadership.
Habeck honors Merkel's humor
Merkel's sovereign handling of male party bosses of the Union, Habeck described as "victory over chauvinism." Her own biography as an East German woman she rarely used politically.
Personally, the CDU politician "perfected normality," explained Habeck. "Merkel could be imagined baking a cake or peeling potatoes or watching 'Tatort'." One knew that she also went to the supermarket, to the cinema, and to the theater as Chancellor. Habeck also honored the witty side of the former Chancellor: "The fine wit (...) was at home with her like the cutting humor and humor – the pathos, the emotion, the passion less," wrote the Economic Minister.
Out of concern not to burden voters too much, necessary changes were left untouched during Merkel's government term from 2005 to 2021, Habeck noted. "Unnecessarily to say, there is also an explanation why the traffic light is so unpopular." Of course, there are management or performance problems in the traffic light, acknowledged the Green politician. "But perhaps approval also comes under structural pressure when a government is a reform government."
- Despite their political differences, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Green party celebrated Angela Merkel's 70th birthday, acknowledging her significant influence on Germany as Federal Chancellor.
- In a tribute article for "Rolling Stone," Habeck praised Merkel's ability to maintain stability as head of government and resist the pull of right-wing populism within her own party.
- Habeck admired Merkel's ability to confront male party bosses with grace, calling it a "victory over chauvinism," and appreciated her down-to-earth personality, which he described as "perfecting normality."
- Recounting Merkel's humorous anecdotes, Habeck acknowledged her wit and humor, which he believed was an underappreciated aspect of her leadership.
- Habeck recognized that while Merkel's government addressed some challenges, it left others unattended due to concern for voter sensitivity, potentially contributing to the current unpopularity of the "traffic light" coalition, which includes the Green party.
