Germany’s date with fate

Today is a symbolic date for Germany as millions of people across the country mark “Schicksalstag” – otherwise known as its day of fate.

It’s a day of national commemoration, as opposed to celebration. Indeed, as German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier puts it, November 9th is an “ambivalent” date, both “a bright and dark day.” 

Germany, it is often said, is better than many other nations at acknowledging the shameful episodes in its past. And today is an occasion to reflect on a particularly ugly historical event. It’s the 83rd anniversary of the anti-Jewish pogrom known as “Kristallnacht”  – or “Night of Broken Glass” – where Nazis, accompanied by many ordinary Germans, terrorised Jews throughout Germany and Austria, destroying around 7,500 Jewish businesses, burning more than 1,400 synagogues, and killing at least 91 people. 

Yet November 9th also marks some prouder moments in German history. On this day in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, setting in motion the country’s unification. 

Ultimately, argues Katja Hoyer, the Anglo-German historian, today is a fitting occasion to remember that “democracy should not be taken for granted.”

But if we’re reflecting on the state – or stability – of the German nation, what is to be said for 9th November 2021? It’s a time of great political uncertainty in Germany.

As Hoyer puts it, Germany is one of the most stable, safe and wealthy countries in the world, but “modern-day German democracy isn’t all plain-sailing.” Political disillusionment is ripe. Two thirds of Germans do not trust the political parties on offer, according to a recent survey. And 42% of East Germans say they are still treated as second-class citizens. 

What’s more, this year marks a moment of political transition in the country. Olaf Scholz, the Social Democrat (SPD) finance minister, is preparing to take over from Angela Merkel, the country’s Chancellor for 16 years and its undisputed Mutti figurehead.

Scholz is not having an easy ride to the chancellorship, and is still negotiating with rival parties to form a new government. He only narrowly won the Bundestag election six weeks ago, and is now attempting to build a ruling coalition with the Green party and the centre-right Free Democrats (FDP) in time to take over on December 6th. 

But Scholz is struggling to put together a three-party alliance and there are growing fears about whether a coalition deal will be reached in time. 

According to leaks from the ongoing negotiations, foreign policy issues are proving especially divisive. Scholz and the SPD wish to draw on Merkel’s conflict-averse approach to Russia and China, nervous about protecting Germany’s economic interests. Germany relies on Russian gas and exporting to China. The Greens, meanwhile, want to come down much harder on both nations when it comes to calling out human rights abuses. 

Fiscal policy is proving to be another thorny issue. The Greens and SDP are hoping to borrow an extra €50 billion a year to invest in infrastructure and clean energy. But the pro-business FDP are fearful of generating unsustainable debts. 

The longer the wrangling goes on, the further it distracts from another pressing issue: tackling the record levels of Covid cases in Germany. 

While only 11 per cent of the intensive care beds in hospitals are currently occupied, this morning, the seven-day incidence rate in the country rose above 200 new cases per 100,000 people for the first time since the pandemic began. 

Merkel is reportedly pushing for a lockdown lite, while the coalition would prefer to focus on measures such as reintroducing free testing for the public. 

The sooner coalition talks are resolved, and the political uncertainty ends, the easier it will be to take decisive action to tackle Germany’s fourth wave. 

Germany is the EU’s economic engine and a diplomatic powerhouse. But the country has problems and the handover from Merkel is proving difficult to arrange.