Special report | Germany

After Merkel

Angela Merkel’s departure will leave a big hole in Germany—and much for her successor to do, says Tom Nuttall

IN JUNE A newly surfaced segment of a German talk show from 1997 set the internet alight. The clip shows Angela Merkel, a fresh-faced environment minister in Helmut Kohl’s government, explaining the urgency of action on climate change. Her fellow panellists listening closely, Germany’s future chancellor says delay will only incur higher costs. The dangers of failure, she warns, include hunger, drought and the mass movement of refugees.

This article appeared in the Special report section of the print edition under the headline “After Merkel”

The mess Merkel leaves behind

From the September 25th 2021 edition

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