Pandemic, European integration, legalization of cannabis … the challenges that await Olaf Scholz

Published on : 12/08/2021 – 07:47

Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who is preparing to take over from Angela Merkel at the head of Germany on Wednesday, December 8, must immediately tackle several major issues, from the pandemic to the climate, including tensions with Moscow or Beijing.

Here is the roadmap and the main challenges of the first post-Merkel social-democratic government, also involving ecologists and liberals from the FDP.

Vaccination soon to be compulsory

Before even taking office, the new team had to start managing the new wave of Covid-19 contamination … and has already reneged on several campaign promises.

Under pressure, she approved a battery of restrictions and accepted the idea of ​​a vaccination obligation, which could be voted on as early as this week with entry into force expected in the first months of 2022. But discontent is mounting in one part of opinion.

Tensions in sight in the coalition

One of Olaf Scholz’s main challenges during his term of office will be to maintain the cohesion of his motley coalition.

The three-party program remains vague on the financing of the promised measures, in particular in terms of investments for infrastructure and the fight against global warming, with an exit from coal expected from 2030 and a large development of renewable energies.

The powerful German auto industry will have to accelerate its transformation: the parties want to have 15 million electric cars on the country’s roads by 2030, against around just over 500,000 currently.

Under pressure from the Liberals, the government intends to tighten the purse strings with minimized deficits and no tax hikes. Tensions are likely to appear very quickly on the subject.

A Europe that defends its interests

If Angela Merkel has been timid on European integration, the new government intends to reinvest in this site.

The coalition contract thus pleads in the long term for a “European federal state” functioning in a decentralized manner. Another notable change is that Berlin has aligned itself with the French vision of a more assertive defense of European interests on the international scene.

A “sovereign Europe is the key” and “it is a duty” for the new government, said Olaf Scholz. The coalition contract is thus favorable to decisions taken by majority in matters of diplomacy and no longer unanimously.

More firmness vis-à-vis Moscow and Beijing

The cohesion of the coalition risks being put to the test on the subject of relations with Moscow and Beijing. The new Foreign Minister, the ecologist Annalena Baerbock, promises a firmer policy than under the Merkel era – with economic interests that prevail – in the face of authoritarian regimes like Russia, which is sounding boots at the border Ukrainian, and China. She did not rule out a boycott of the Beijing Olympics.

The liberals are on a similar line, while Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats are traditionally more conciliatory towards Moscow or Beijing.

Establishment of “mandate markers”

The government has planned to adopt several measures appearing as “markers of the term”: increase in the minimum hourly wage to 12 euros against 9.6 euros currently, legalization of cannabis for adults in “approved stores”, reduction to 16 years of the right to vote in legislative elections.

In matters of immigration, a subject which hardly mobilized public opinion during the campaign, the establishment of a procedure for acquiring a residence permit for people hitherto said to be “tolerated” is planned. that is, who cannot be deported for various reasons but do not have the right to work.

The future coalition thus wishes to “give these foreigners a chance” by offering them, after five years in the country, the possibility of progressively accessing a permanent residence permit.

With AFP