It took a mere 14 months for Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to tumble from the top of German politics and lose her chance to replace Angela Merkel as chancellor. But the downfall of Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer is symptomatic of more profound ailments in the German party political system.
The proximate cause of her resignation on Monday as leader of the ruling Christian Democrats was her inability to exert control over local CDU politicians in the small eastern state of Thuringia. They colluded last week with the rightwing nationalist Alternative for Germany party in electing Thuringia’s premier, thereby breaking a taboo on co-operating with the radical right which had held since the formation of the democratic West German state in 1949.
The public backlash against the Thuringian CDU’s action was immediate and intense. Far from representing a genuine breakthrough for the AfD, the unsavoury episode actually demonstrated that a majority of German society — at least, in the west — wants the taboo on collaboration with the extreme right to be applied resolutely and unconditionally.
In this sense, Germany remains a long way from travelling down the road of neighbouring Austria, where the far-right Freedom party was brought into a coalition government at national level after elections in 2017. It shared power for 18 months before its disreputable behaviour forced the party out of office.
There were other factors behind Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer’s fall from grace. She committed public relations and policy blunders that damaged her standing with German voters, stimulated internal dissent in the CDU and made it increasingly doubtful that she would be selected as the party’s candidate for chancellor in the next Bundestag elections, due by September 2021.
Even Ms Merkel’s decision in July to promote Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer to defence minister could not stop the CDU sharks from circling around their new leader. Running the defence ministry is at the best of times a thankless task for German politicians, but the chief gripe of her critics was that she was jeopardising the CDU’s chances of remaining the dominant party after the next elections.
This illustrates that the fundamental cause of the collapse of her authority lies in the reshaping and fragmentation of Germany’s party landscape in the Merkel era. In the 2017 Bundestag elections, the CDU and the Social Democrats, their coalition partners, each scored their lowest national vote since the end of Nazism.
What used to be a three-party system, involving the CDU, SPD and liberal Free Democrats, evolved after the 1980s into a four-party system with the rise of the Greens. Then it became a five-party system with the emergence of Die Linke, a leftist party with roots in former East Germany’s communist dictatorship.
Finally, after the AfD’s birth in 2013 and entry into the Bundestag in 2017, the system has six parties — or seven, if one counts the Christian Social Union, the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, separately. This splintering has made the formation of stable coalition governments an ever more awkward task, one rendered no easier by the four mainstream parties’ refusal to consider governing at national level with either Die Linke or the AfD.
The Thuringia debacle will add to these complications by intensifying suspicions of the Free Democrats, who were as guilty as the CDU, if not more so, in effectively lifting the taboo on the AfD. No less important, the prospect of a CDU-Green partnership will be clouded by the Greens’ doubts about whether the CDU can be trusted to maintain the ironclad isolation of the radical right in regional German politics.
The effect of these ructions is not to undermine the integrity of German democracy, but rather to raise questions about the effectiveness of Germany’s role in Europe and the wider global arena. As the old international order erodes, Germany is being shaken by short-term political convulsions and longer-term structural changes that hold it back just when its leadership is most needed.
New Brunswick voters have elected a Liberal majority government, tossing out the incumbent Progressive Conservatives after six years in power and handing the reins to the first woman ever to lead the province. Liberal Leader Susan Holt spent much of the campaign rolling out proposed fixes for a health-care system racked by a doctor shortage, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait-times. She promised to open 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028. (Oct. 22, 2024)
Susan Holt has made history in New Brunswick by becoming the first woman to serve as the leader of the province’s Liberal Party, a significant milestone in the province’s political landscape. Holt’s leadership victory signals a new era of representation, gender equality, and change in the region, which has long been dominated by male politicians.
Holt’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and dedication. Before entering politics, she built a distinguished career in the private sector, where she held numerous leadership positions. Her experience in business development and public policy has equipped her with the skills needed to navigate the complex world of politics.
In a province where women have historically been underrepresented in politics, Holt’s election represents a watershed moment. Women’s involvement in leadership roles has been steadily increasing nationwide, but New Brunswick, like many parts of Canada, has seen slower progress in achieving gender parity. Holt’s rise to the top of the Liberal Party not only shatters a glass ceiling but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of women aiming for political leadership.
As the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, Holt has laid out a vision of inclusivity and progress. Her policies focus on economic development, healthcare reform, environmental sustainability, and addressing social issues that have plagued the province. She has also emphasized the importance of transparent governance and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, making her platform both modern and forward-thinking.
Holt’s leadership arrives at a time when many voters are calling for change, especially in the face of challenges like economic uncertainty and the need for healthcare improvements. She aims to bring fresh ideas to tackle these issues while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their background, have a voice in government decisions.
Susan Holt joins the ranks of other trailblazing women across Canada who have led provincial parties and governments. Women like former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne have paved the way, and now Holt is contributing to this growing legacy of female political leadership in Canada.
Her achievement highlights not only the growing number of women entering politics but also the demand for leaders who can bring diverse perspectives to the table. In a field often dominated by entrenched traditions, Holt’s election is a step toward a more inclusive and representative political landscape in New Brunswick.
Holt’s leadership signals a broader shift in Canadian politics, where more women and diverse voices are gaining prominence. For young women across the country, her rise serves as a powerful reminder that leadership roles are within reach, even in traditionally male-dominated spheres.
With her election, Susan Holt has proven that perseverance, skill, and a vision for change can break even the toughest barriers. Her leadership will not only reshape New Brunswick’s political future but also inspire others across Canada to pursue leadership positions and continue to challenge the status quo.
NDP Leader Carla Beck has two planned campaign events today, starting the day with an availability in Moose Jaw and then later this evening attending an event in the capital with the Regina Medical Staff Association.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, will speak in Prince Albert at the start of Voting Week in the province.
Saskatchewan residents can vote for five days starting today in the lead-up to next week’s provincial election, although polls won’t be open Sunday.
The NDP and the Saskatchewan Party are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Voters can find their polling stations on their information cards or by visiting the Elections Saskatchewan website.
Chief electoral officer Michael Boda says there are about 810,000 registered voters in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
