Merkel running for 4th term

[Famous Mortimer]

I liked that the politico article mentioned both Kohl and Bismark, not sure if Merkel will rank as high as them. Is she likely to win?

We're talking about Bismarck 125 years after his death, he's still a household name, even among non-Germans he's widely known and a divisive character but still a politician modern politician are compared positive to, he's in the champions league of historic politicians. No, Merkel is no Bismarck, and that would also be a insane high standard to hold her up to. But Bismarck is just a figure all modern German Kanslers are compared to, if they're successful.

As for Kohl, I think she's a superior politician, I personal don't think people will talk much about Kohl in a few decades time, of course the question is also how big a splash Merkel is going to make in the history books, I could imagine that the reason we see her as something unique, is more a question that Germany have come out of the post-reunification crisis under her (thanks to Schröders reforms) and Germany suddenly have to deal with EU as the biggest economy and the biggest country in it. She may very well just be the first of many German Kanslers who have to deal with the changed balance of power in Europe, a Europe where the Paris-Berlin axis have broken down, and Germany suddenly have to deal with their new and unwelcomed (as much in Berlin as in Paris) dominance.

Kohl was just one of several conservative, anti-Communist Western leaders in the 80s, overshadowed by Reagan and Thatcher. Merkel is the leader of her own little bloc though. She's a leader in global politics rather than a passenger. She will be a larger figure in history than Kohl for sure.

[Famous Mortimer]

Merkel prefers to govern with the SPD.

The only reason she wouldn't is if the SPD refused.

[Famous Mortimer]

Nah, Greens and The Left are basically the same ideologically. All the differences are cultural.

[Famous Mortimer]

Nah, Greens and The Left are basically the same ideologically. All the differences are cultural.

'

Well, that is contrary to the opinion of basically anyone knowledgeable about German politics.

I think this is a case where they can't see the forest for the trees. They are focused so much on detail they can't see the bigger picture that they are indeed basically the same. Maybe not the same, let me put it this way, the differences between the Greens and the Left are less than the differences between the left and right wings within other single political parties.