As a former Vice President of the World Bank and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Ana Palacio believes that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s lack of leadership and indecisiveness is contributing to the increase in support for the far-right party AfD in Germany. She criticizes Scholz for prioritizing avoiding escalation of conflicts, particularly direct confrontation between NATO and Russia, over providing support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Palacio highlights that the fragility of the government coalition led by Scholz hinders his ability to make agreements with other EU countries, causing delays in important decisions. The former World Bank executive predicts that the situation in Germany is not likely to improve soon, drawing parallels to the challenges faced by the country in the 1990s. During that time, strong leadership and a commitment to the European project helped Germany overcome economic difficulties. Palacio expresses concern that Scholz’s reluctance to take decisive action and map out a clear path forward may have negative implications for both Germany and the EU as a whole.
She attributes the increasing support for the far-right AfD party in Germany to growing frustration among the population, particularly in the economic sector. Palacio warns that a weakened and directionless Germany is not in the interest of the EU and its member states.
