The election in Germany on 26th September will have significant implications for both Germany and the rest of Europe. After over a decade of relative political stability under Chancellor Merkel, her departure has thrown the election wide open. Under her successor, Armin Laschet, the Christian Democrats are dropping in the polls while the Greens are likely to achieve their highest ever vote share. The result is set to shake up German politics, with a large coalition including the Greens looking increasingly likely. As the dominant power in the EU, this will have implications not just for Germany but also the rest of the continent.
What will the end of the Merkel era mean for Germany and Europe? Who is in the running to succeed her and what should we expect from them? Will German politics become more volatile and would what the impact of that be? What does the rise of the Greens mean for both domestic policy and for the country’s stance in the EU and on the world stage?
Our speakers will discuss these questions and more.
Participants
Chair: Quentin Peel, Associate Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House
Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Director for Europe and Eurasia, Open Society Foundations
Andreas Busch, Professor of Comparative Politics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
