While today’s SPD endorsement of a grand coalition will likely see Angela Merkel return to power, a prominent German journalist claims the country will be stuck “at a standstill”.
This afternoon, the SPD gave its lukewarm approval of a renewed Angela Merkel-led “grand coalition” regime, more than four months after Germans voted in the election.
The absence of Germany on the European stage has gifted Emmanuel Macron the chance to lead the EU, as seen in his visit to Britain this week.
Speaking on the BBC’s Dateline programme, Thomas Kielinger, of Die Welt, commented that Germany needs to lead Europe to maintain its economy.
He said: “If Merkel was a business, it would be time to issue a profit warning. Germany is at a standstill and nobody seems to want to govern anymore.
“I’m afraid a strong Germany will not emerge anytime soon. It will not be in a position to represent the country as a whole.”
The BBC panel remarked on the complacency that had set it within German leadership.
Mina Al Oraibi, from The National, added: “After a while, these economic structures will start to erode.
“The instability means no long-term decisions can be made.”
French journalist Marc Roche claimed that the regional divides in Germany will also see the country distracted by internal matters.
He said: “Germany is crumbling regionally. Europe has to deal with Brexit, refugees, the crisis in the eurozone, Poland.
“It’s an urgent matter but Germany is blocked and will continue to be blocked.
“It is required that Germany steps up for a leadership role in the EU, its economy demands it
“You can’t take the benefits of the EU economy but leave the business of Europe to others.”