No matter what Angela Merkel does at the G20 summit - Olaf Scholz is always there.
This is a gesture with great symbolic power.
A commentary analysis.
Rome - Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) provided great symbolic power on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Rome.
The outgoing head of government presented her likely successor Olaf Scholz (SPD) directly to the international stage.
G20 summit: Scholz in tow - Merkel arrives with her (likely) successor
The designated SPD Chancellor was allowed to accompany Merkel every step of the way.
There was a joint meeting with US President Joe Biden, including a press photo.
Merkel also took the SPD politician to a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron;
they too were photographed together.
Scholz is actually in his capacity as Federal Minister of Finance in Rome.
Merkel had invited him to accompany her to their bilateral meetings.
According to information from her environment, the Chancellor wanted to send a signal of continuity on the international stage in view of the imminent change of government in Germany.
A signal that is obviously being received.
G20 summit: International media praise Merkel and Scholz's “Rendezvous”
"How Merkel deals with Scholz is an international sensation," was the headline in the
world
. The
New York Times
praised: “A German buddy: Merkel invites her successor to come along.” The Italian newspaper
La Repubblica ran the
headline of the “virtual handover between the Chancellor and the prospective heir”. In France,
Le Télégramme
wrote
: "Merkel supports Scholz by inviting him to a rendezvous."
According to the international interpretation, Scholz is already seen as Chancellor.
He is not yet head of government.
His SPD is in the middle of coalition negotiations with the Greens and the FDP regarding a traffic light alliance.
For Scholz, who had himself photographed with the Merkel diamond during the election campaign and is often compared to the Chancellor, the joint meeting with Merkel stands for an optimal start to the approaching Chancellorship.
A few months ago, Armin Laschet experienced the power that political images can have in these times - in a negative sense.
The Union's candidate for chancellor had laughed at an inopportune moment.
G20 summit: Merkel conveys political continuity - and shows greatness
For Scholz, the pictures are only one point in the action.
The fact that he - and his confidants such as State Secretary Wolfgang Schmidt - are being taken away by Merkel can also be seen internationally as a strong signal for German politics.
Merkel mediates political continuity - which should not be insignificant for international partners.
The
Germany radio
accounted for in a comment: "More clearly can not demonstrate to continuity.
In times when climate protection is just as stuck and jammed as it is in the fight against the corona pandemic, Germany remains a reliable and predictable partner on the global stage that other countries can rely on.
Even after a change of government. "
It should not be the case everywhere that a head of government who has been in office for many years seems to hand over the office to their (presumed) successor, who also comes from another party, so silently.
Remember the antics that Donald Trump had played with his successor Biden.
The Republican didn't even want to recognize the election result.
Merkel, who did not run for re-election, is handling the - at least historically bad - election result of her union differently.
In a way, it shows the big picture and the international perception of Germany.
She demonstrates this, among other things, by appearing together with Scholz - all in all a gesture that should be acknowledged internationally.
And by means of which Olaf Scholz is already being made the permanent Merkel successor in the Chancellery.
(as)