Palacio suggests that the rise of the far-right party AfD in Germany can be attributed to weaknesses in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s leadership. As a former Vice President of the World Bank and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, she criticizes Scholz for indecisiveness in handling various issues, particularly his failure to provide adequate support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Palacio highlights that Scholz’s focus on avoiding escalation of conflicts has hindered swift decision-making and action, which has weakened his ability to make agreements with other EU countries. The fragility of Scholz’s government coalition has also impacted progress within the EU.
The former vice president expresses concern about growing support for AfD in Germany, which she attributes to societal frustrations related to the economy. She notes that Germany is facing challenges reminiscent of the 1990s, and believes that Scholz’s approach of understanding challenges without outlining a clear path forward is detrimental to both Germany and the EU as a whole.
Palacio emphasizes the importance of decisive leadership and a strong belief in the European project to address current issues facing Germany. She warns that a weakened and directionless Germany is not in the best interest of the EU or its member states, and calls for urgent actions to navigate the country out of its current state of uncertainty and instability.
In conclusion, Palacio believes that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s lack of leadership and indecisiveness have contributed to society’s frustration with economic challenges, which has led to an increase in support for AfD. She stresses that immediate action is needed from German leaders who are committed to preserving their nation’s status as a powerful player within Europe.
