By Aidan Morales
Having been in power in Germany for more than 50 years of the Federal Republic of Germany’s 72-year existence, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) have dominated German politics. Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of West Germany was a founding member of the CDU and was in power for over 14 years. Merkel, a member of the CDU and the current incumbent of the office of the Chancellor, has been in power for 16 years and counting. It’s important to grasp how strong of a grip the two Unionsparteien (Union Parties) have had over Germany’s democratic history. For the first time since 2005, it seems that Germany will have a Chancellor from the SPD. However, we must wait and see how the coalitions will form. The Social Democratic Party of Germany, or the SPD, is the oldest democratic political party in Germany and one of the most influential parties in Germany, right behind the Christian Democrats.
For an American to understand where on the political spectrum these parties are, they must first understand Germany’s history. Four years after the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945, West Germany was formed. Nationalistic and far-right parties were shunned and the extreme shift to liberalism begun. This continues now as the CDU, which to the average American would seem to be conservative, is actually closer to the Democratic Party than it is to the Republican Party. The SPD is even farther left, leaving the Democratic Party in the dust in terms of liberalism. Even though the CDU is more conservative than the SPD, they both support progressive ideals.
This election, however, may change the course of the European Union as well, affecting the 27 member states within it. Merkel, an experienced and pro-Europeanist Chancellor, has pushed for maximum integration within the European Union. This includes laws, policies, and economies being united into one integrated European economy. This has not been easy for her as many of Europe’s leaders have opposed this and a select few only opened up to the Eurozone because of her. The Eurozone is the monetary authority within the European Union that manages currency and banking of the European Central bank, which many European countries have been very against. The runner-up for Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is an experienced man in regards to finance but his political skills appear to be minimal at best. While he will be able to advocate for integration within the European Union, his political skills and chances of convincing Euroskeptics will be limited. This leaves some worry in the hearts of those with Europeanist ideals, making the future of the EU bright but possibly messy.