Driven by generosity, altruism and social responsibility, Angela Merkel decided to let in one million refugees and migrants in 2015 without much apparent concern for what the average German citizen thought, or wanted. This doesn't make Germans xenophobes or anti-Europeans, not at all. But it is why Ms Merkel's popularity has plummeted from 60 percentage points to only 34.

Ms Merkel's rival, Martin Schulz, as a man of Brussels, didn't face strong competition in the Social Democratic leadership race. Most of his colleagues in the Party "still believe in European unity but they just want to be led by someone who will put their interests first". In a few words, Mr Schulz's followers found in him their 'Donald Trump' who promised to make people feel at home again in their own country.

Being a true European, Mr Schulz defends European integration more emotionally than Ms Merkel does. Yet, parts of Mr Schulz's tune for next autumn election is sounding more like nationalism – his simple message is "I'll protect us" while Ms Merkel's main message of the past years has been "I'll protect you, but I have to protect others as well"...

For the common citizen, however, Ms Merkel's generosity and altruism boiled down to one very simple question: 'Ms Merkel, where, in all these years you've been at the helm, has the state protected my interests?'

Obviously, there are quite a few who disagree with Ms Merkel's reasoning but no matter what Ms Merkel's critics say, I strongly believe that the Iron Lady of Germany deserves another fourth term in office.

 

Jos Edmond Zarb

Birkirkara