What you need to know about Germany’s close election

Chancellor A push from Merkel has put environmental issues at the heart of German politics, and virtually all parties have stressed their green credentials. In this campaign the Green Party has called for a 70% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, compared to the current government goal of a 55% cut.Economic worries have also come to the fore; in a last-gasp pitch to voters, Laschet said Monday that a left-wing coalition led by the SPD would cause a “severe economic crisis,” Reuters reported. Laschet has also followed Merkel’s line regarding the European Union; in the final pre-election debate, he emphasized European cohesion as one of his flagship policies. But the campaign has been mostly defined by domestic matters; a minimum wage hike and pension reforms are at the heart of Scholz’s campaign, and he stressed those plans again in the debate.Will a Merkel-less Germany still lead on the world stage?The global consequences of Sunday’s vote are clear; Merkel’s longevity saw her become Europe’s de facto leader, and it’s unclear whether her successor will fill the same role.”Germany’s going to be faced with some significant foreign policy challenges which the new government has to take on,” Schreer said. “The question is, who’s going to replace (Merkel), and will that person have the same charisma and ability that she did?” he added. “Allies are skeptical, and Germans as well are quite cautious in that regard.”A key part of Merkel’s role was her steadfast determination to maintain European cohesion and paper over the cracks between EU member states. “Macron will try to usurp Merkel’s position in Europe,” predicted Bergsen, signaling a possible shift in the balance of power towards France, Germany’s western neighbor. “The German position won’t necessarily change, but whoever now comes to power will have to deal with a broader (domestic) coalition so they will find it slightly harder to lead on the international stage.”Looking further afield, Germany’s new leader will also have to balance the country’s relationships with the United States and China, two nations with whom Merkel attempted to maintain close ties.And keeping the United Kingdom close after its departure from the EU is key. “The UK remains an important partner in strategic terms, and Germany knows that if the UK isn’t engaged in the European continent, then you will split the Europeans,” said Schreer.”(Germany) is a well-respected country at the international stage — that is undoubtedly the case,” he added. “The question is: Does that now enable Germany to weather those international storms that are certainly coming?”