Most Germans Think Their ‘Golden Age’ Is Over, Poll Says Business

The majority of Germans believe that their country’s “golden age” is over, according to a new poll which casts doubt on its future role as de facto leader of Europe on the eve of Angela Merkel’s departure.

A study by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that 52% of Germans are pessimistic about the future, believing that the best lies behind Europe’s largest economy.

Across the block, respondents are also skeptical. Just over a third said Germany’s golden age was over, while just 10% believed it was yet to come.

The think tank report, Beyond Merkelism, has found lasting support for outgoing Merkel across the bloc, with Europeans backing her over French President Emmanuel Macron as a hypothetical future candidate for the EU presidency.

A plurality of European citizens – 36% – trusted Germany to defend their economic and financial interests, despite the long shadow of the austerity program that Merkel helped introduce in the wake of the financial crisis.

However, support for German leadership on geopolitical issues was weak, with only one in five respondents believing the company can lead the bloc in relations with Russia, and only 17% saying the same for relations with Russia. ‘EU with China.

The report says: “These findings suggest that while Angela Merkel has solidified Germany’s position as a great European power, the cornerstones of its legacy – neutrality and consensus building – will not be enough. to defend the unity of the EU and its place in the world in the years to come.

The Germans will go to the polls on September 26 to elect a new parliament and choose a successor to Merkel, who has been chancellor since 2005.

His own party, the Christian Democratic Union, lags behind its coalition partner, the center-left Social Democratic Party, in the polls. Ms Merkel’s SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz is likely to become the next Chancellor.