Angela Merkel is now the leader of the free world, not Donald Trump
- Sunny Hundal
When Barack Obama revealed that his last
phone call as President was to Angela Merkel,
reaffirming their alliance and friendship of the last eight years, he wasn’t
just saying goodbye. He was handing over his baton. The German Chancellor isn’t
just the leader of Europe, she is now the de-facto leader of the free world.
The thrice-elected, soft-spoken former
scientist from East Germany, armed with a doctorate in quantum chemistry,
doesn’t just carry the weight of Germany and Europe on her shoulders, but that
of defending freedom and liberalism across the world.
This is not an attempt to be provocative or
exaggerate for effect. Donald Trump cannot claim the mantle of “leading” the
free world by default. America’s military might is not the only criteria
necessary.
The title also requires the President to be
committed to the values of liberal democracy. But unlike his predecessors since
the Second World War, it is already clear that Trump has no such inclinations.
He is heading, at terrifying speed, in the opposite direction.
Do I even have to make the case for this?
Since his inauguration Trump has undermined and ignored judges, even though an independent
judiciary and a separation of powers is key to a democracy.
But the ban on immigrants highlighted
something far more draconian. If a President can abruptly restrict the rights
of US residents without bothering with lawmakers or even government
departments, he in effect an autocrat. That is exactly what Trump did and will
continue to do so. His actions don’t just undermine the rights of all
Americans, they undermine the institutions that support American democracy.
Then there is Trump’s assault on
international trade and cooperation. He is already threatening Mexico, China
and now the EU. Who will be next? We can debate whether
globalisation benefits people equally, but only a fool would deny that
international trade is a global good. And it can only work if done on an equal,
rules-based footing. But Trump doesn’t care for those, he is ripping up
international agreements so he can bully smaller countries into submission.
That sets a dangerous precedent for the entire world.
And lastly there is the Trump administration’s
hostility towards the media. Regardless of its bias, a thriving democracy needs
a media willing to challenge the government. Trump isn’t just hostile to
criticism, in his warped world it must be driven by lies and
vindictiveness. He is wracked by deep insecurity. When his chief aide Steve
Bannon says the media should “keep its mouth shut” – they mean it. They don’t want a free
media criticising them at all. These are words that dictators use, not
democrats.
The US
President isn’t motivated by protecting liberal democracy or freedom, his
sole ideology is Trumpism: corporate autocracy with a populist facade. And he
surrounds himself with white nationalists even more hostile to liberal
democracy than he is.
Having grown up in communist East Germany
before re-unification, Angela Merkel is the polar opposite. She doesn’t just
recognise the sounds of autocracy, she chose to escape it.
This is why she has stood up to Trump’s
bullying and bigotry, saying on Monday that the “necessary battle against
terrorism” did not justify putting “groups of certain people under general
suspicion”. The British government in sharp contrast has been slavish and
spineless.
It’s now abundantly clear that the free world
needs a new leader. With respect to Justin Trudeau, Canada simply isn’t
powerful enough. It has to be Angela Merkel.
Her opponents know this, which is why the
pro-Trump, pro-Putin, far-right forces are lining up against her. We know this. And she knows it.
It’s time the most powerful woman in the world embraced her new role. The world
needs her.
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