He knew it wouldn’t be easy to take over from Angela Merkel, but there… He can hardly do worse. Since taking office on December 8, we have heard and seen little of him. Unlike a chancellor whose discretion was perceived as a guarantee of seriousness, the Germans preferred to know her at work rather than in the media, vis-à-vis Olaf Scholz public opinion is developing mistrust.
#WoIstOlaf (#WhereisOlaf?) is also one of the most popular keywords on Twitter in Germany (not only taken up by the opposition), with a string of very funny – and very bitter – illustrations.
Deutschland fragt sich: Wo ist @OlafScholz? In der Ukraine-Krise abgetaucht, das Impfziel meilenweit verfehlt, bis heute nichts zur Bekämpfung der explodierenden Preise vorgelegt. #woIstScholz pic.twitter.com/9iI1Ra44jn
— Markus Blume (@MarkusBlume) February 2, 2022
Der Spiegel described a head of government last week “inaudible” and “almost invisible”. He “seems to want to surpass [Angela Merkel] in the art of disappearance”summarizes the weekly, dyears its management of the health crisis but also on the Ukrainian file.
The compulsory vaccination he supports, supposed to come into force in February or March, has still not been voted and now seems uncertain, while more than 100,000 Covid-19 contaminations are recorded every day and the country is affected. by a shortage of PCR tests.
In terms of international relations, which were never his priority and which he hardly spoke about during the campaign, Olaf Scholz is accused of showing too much complacency towards Moscow and too little commitment towards Kiev. In particular, he attracted a lot of sarcasm by sending the Ukrainian military 5,000 helmets rather than weapons. The operation turned out to be a disaster in terms of communication, even if this posture of not providing lethal weapons has been a constant of the German government for several years.
This week, he is trying to move up a gear to play his part too in the current diplomatic ballet around Russia Monday, February 7, visit to the White House, the following evening, reception in Berlin of Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Duda, and next week (finally) a short trip to Moscow and Kiev. Olaf Scholz tries to regain control.
However, what sorrowful minds will remember from his trip across the Atlantic is neither his press conference nor his interview with CNN, but… his look.
Olaf Scholz on the plane that brings him to the United States discusses with the journalists. 1st meeting with Biden who a few weeks ago would have been more relaxed #Ukraine https://t.co/trikaixdI5
—Pascal Thibaut (@pthibaut) February 7, 2022
On the plane that took him to Washington, the Chancellor indeed appeared wearing a simple mottled gray sweater over a black T-shirt. “And tomorrow, he will put on slippers? VSain’t like that, netizens say, that he’ll restore Germany’s credibility.
Faced with Joe Biden, the Social Democratic Chancellor above all lacked clarity and firmness about Nord Stream 2, the name of which he did not even pronounce. Asked three times what would happen to the gas pipeline in the event of an attack on Ukraine by Russia, he systematically kicked into touch, contenting himself with saying that an attack “would be expensive”. Lhe American president wants to close this strategic gas pipeline which directly links Russia to Germany. The gas pipeline is already built but not yet in operation. He said it again quite firmly. Faced with a visibly embarrassed Olaf Scholz in the armholes.
Everyone can be absolutely sure that Germany stands side by side with its allies and especially the United States when it comes to Russia and the Ukraine. We are prepared to take all necessary steps together. There is no disagreement in this situation. https://t.co/KMsOxCcmuf
—Olaf Scholz (@OlafScholz) February 8, 2022
The two men, however, assured that this difference in tone did not reflect any dissonance on the merits. “We act together, we are totally united and we will take the same measures.” against Russia if they ever attacked, said Olaf Scholz. ATjousting that it was not necessary “not put on the table” from the outset all possible measures of retaliation. Enough to maintain the irritation of the Americans – when he had already had to be prayed for to consider this option.
At the end of January, the German ambassador to the United States had even sent a telegram to Berlin warning of “serious discredit” from which suffers his country in the press and in the American Congress. Germany is too often seen as a “unreliable partner”wrote the diplomat, in particular by the Republicans who accuse her of “sleep with Putin” to protect its gas supplies.
“The style ‘You can count on me, I’m experienced and I know what I’m doing’ is certainly not enough in the pandemic and in the international crisis”explains political scientist Hajo Funke to AFP, for whom Mr. Scholz’s communication has a “big room for improvement”. His popularity rating has also fallen from 60% in early January to 43%, the largest drop for a chancellor in post-war history.
His party, the SPD (24%) is now ahead in several polls by the conservatives of the CDU-CSU (between 25 and 27%), yet worn down by 16 years in power and relegated to the opposition. “The automaton” – that’s his nickname – will have to make a lot of efforts to gain stature on the international and domestic scene.