Big politics has been leading the debate of these past weeks, with the most notable disruption in Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down as chair of the conservative CDU, after harsh losses of her party in the state elections of Hesse. Journalists and political observers now speculate about the Merkel-dawn, and it may well be. The Christian Democrat party is not short in candidates who offer themselves for party leadership now and possibly for a subsequent candidacy for chancellor, including some long forgotten ones. But Merkel is famous for sitting out party conflicts – writing her completely off is certainly premature.
Trying to sit out problems is currently Italy: a meeting of the Eurozone finance ministers was full of discussion, but with no result – Italian Finance Minister Giovanni Tria reiterated that the budget will not be changed, and surprisingly expects “neither compromise nor conflict” with the Commission – who had just flat-out rejected the Italian budget plan. Italy still has a little less than a week to submit a new plan, but rhetorics are harsh and if it was not of such great concern to all of Europe, it would be interesting to sit back and watch.
Also, no case for sitting back and watching is the next step in Brexit negotiations. Whilst Britain is getting nervous on various accounts – UK chancellor Philip Hammond just came out with a budget proposal based on a more than clear warning against hard Brexit – rumors have it that a compromise on the Irish border is finally underway. But we have all heard that before.
Not sitting, but stepping back has been Maroš Šefčovič from his bid to become S&D Spitzenkandidat, thereby crowning Frans Timmermans for the job. The EPP made it more exciting – EPP party group leader Manfred Weber had to stand for election against his Finnish colleague Alexander Stubb at the EPP summit in Helsinki on 8 November – and unsurprisingly got 79% of the votes, given the backing from all EPP Heads of government. The EPP members travelling from Brussels are lucky they made it to Helsinki – Brussels airport was hit by a surprise strike of the baggage handling team Aviapartner right for the fall holidays, leaving many cursing customers being sent off not at all, or to new adventures (e.g. re-routings via the airport of Lille).
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Irina Michalowitz
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