Farewell, & Thank God for Angela Merkel

 

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany at her farewell event in Berlin on Thursday, December 2.Credit...Clemens Bilan/EPA

Back in September the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, stepped down after 16 years at the helm of a country which has been a beacon of democracy during her time in leadership. It was often pointed out that during the dark years of President Voldemort Merkel was the leader of the free world, showing common sense and steadiness while Trump woofed and preened. It is remarkable that in what can be drearily the man's world of politics she chose not to be an "Iron Lady" in the fashion of Margaret Thatcher but managed to be firm and wise and courageous. 

In turned out that there was no rest for the virtuous after the election. As Germany sought to form a coalition government Merkel stayed on and finally, this week, she moves into retirement. 

I have written before about Merkel's Christian faith which began as the child of a pastor in East Germany before the wall came down. She has been open about the importance of her faith both at a personal level and in informing decision-making.

In 2015 she and her Christian Democrat party made the controversial decision to allow a million refugees into Germany. This was met with resistance at the time and the rise of right-wing, anti-immigration parties. It's been pointed out, though, that Germany's economy has remained strong, in part because these immigrants have meant that the country has not experienced the labour shortages of other Western nations. Compassion can make economic sense. 

Along the way Merkel was dubbed the "Climate Chancellor" for her efforts at international climate events to curb global carbon emissions, although she came up against stone walls put up by other world leaders. 

At her farewell event Merkelm who has a doctorate in quantum chemistry, offered that “The last two years of this pandemic have shown how important the trust in politics, science and societal discourse is — but also how fragile it can be... Democracy depends on solidarity and trust, including the trust in facts.”

A military band played three pieces at her farewell, including a punk rock song by Nina Hagen which was a hit during her teen years. The finale was an 18th-century Christian hymn Holy God, We Praise Thy Name: 

Holy God, we praise thy name. God of all we bow down before thee. 

All on earth your sceptre claim; all in heav'n above adore thee.

Infinite they vast domain, everlasting is thy reign. 

The hymn lyrics seems a tad archaic, but she's a Lutheran, so we have to give her some leeway! Thank God for Angela Merkel. We need a lot more leaders like her in these perilous times. 

                                                     Angela Merkel was born in 1954, a very good year.