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Olaf Scholz, the conversion of the “automaton” into war chancellor

Olaf Scholz, the conversion of the “automaton” into war chancellor

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, criticized for his lack of charisma and nicknamed “the automaton” for his monotonous speeches, became a staunch war chancellor from the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that broke numerous German taboos.

In January, in the midst of tense discussions between Russia and the United States, the hashtag #Where is Olaf Scholz? emerged on German social networks, reflecting longing for former Chancellor Angela Merkel.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the former mayor of Hamburg showed himself to his fellow citizens as a war chief who speaks clearly.

German public opinion was marked by his speech on Sunday, in which he announced an unprecedented investment in defense and described a world plunged into a “new era”.

Scholz even received applause from his rivals in the CDU (right), relegated to the opposition after 16 years in power, but once again leading the polls.

Even the Bild tabloid, which often harshly criticizes Scholz, praised this “left-wing chancellor who pushes demands abandoned by conservative leaders for many, many years.”

“Delusions”

The Social Democrat Scholz, who heads a coalition government with the Liberals and the Greens, a party with an anti-militarist tradition, “left no doubt about his determination,” noted the weekly Der Spiegel.

“While at the beginning of the Russian crisis, the German chancellor still doubted the need to adopt a clear position, Putin’s warmongering attack blew up these illusions,” explained political scientist Ursula Münch, who stresses that Scholz “knows how to speak clearly and unequivocally when necessary”.

Although until a few weeks ago it referred to the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as a “private economic” matter, it suspended this macro-project after Russian recognition of the independence of the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine.

The German government also forgot one of the country’s taboos, the sale of lethal weapons to war zones, and on Saturday authorized the delivery of howitzers, anti-tank missile launchers and surface-to-air missiles to Kiev.

In addition, it announced an increase in its military budget beyond 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), despite its reluctance in recent years to increase its contribution to NATO due to pressure from then US President Donald Trump.

Even Scholz distanced himself from former Social Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, due to his presence on several Russian boards of directors and his alleged affinity with Vladimir Putin.

Merkel too naive

Scholz’s conversion into war chief is a paradox for the man who was once a prominent member of the Young Social Democrats and became a political soldier for his pacifist commitment.

However, as he did during the pandemic, when he promoted an ambitious public spending plan as finance minister after years of defending budgetary rigor, he has now shown his ability to adapt to a bigger event.

This conflict may serve to strengthen his stature as president and get rid of the long shadow of Merkel, at the head of the chancellery for 16 years.

“We will no longer praise her talent as a negotiator, but rather talk about whether her governments were too naive to Putin,” says Münch.

Source: Gestion

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