Scholz difficult start and a missed opportunity

One who advises the rulers says: When you sit up there, you are all alone. Then the burden of office begins. On Wednesday the time will come when Angela Merkel will hand over her 140 square meter office to Olaf Scholz on the 7th floor of the Chancellery. Maybe pour coffee from the silver pots one last time.

It is certainly one of the most unusual transfers of power in the history of the Federal Republic, an exemplary one in times of great centrifugal forces in the western democracies.

US President Joe Biden had to instigate one of his predecessor Donald Trump before he could take office Storm on the US Capitol experience with several dead. Merkel, on the other hand, coordinates closely with Scholz and introduced him to her colleagues at the G20 summit.

Most recently, after a few jerks, they also found a common (tightening) line with Corona, which allows Merkel to leave office a little more relaxed.

The past days and weeks have shown that Scholz will do some things differently, but not everything right. Hundreds of new corona deaths overshadow its start every day, and at the end of October Merkel warned urgent consultations about tightening. But Scholz accepted the FDP’s request to defuse the measures in order to tighten them again now. That took a lot of time.

First mistakes, but clear promises

The FDP in particular is experiencing a rendezvous with the reality of government – and at the start it ruled wrongly with Scholz. Much too late – unlike Merkel – Scholz sought intensive discussions with scientists. The fact that he is now establishing an expert council is also a bit of a show. Merkel didn’t talk about it much and always kept a close relationship with virologists and modelers. Scholz has long been considered a little know-it-all who can indulge in legal proseminars. He has given up this attitude a little, has understood that in a three-party coalition and as Chancellor, he has to be more of a listener and a person seeking advice. Making a pandemic policy based on legal considerations is not always the best solution.

Unlike Merkel, who acted step by step and shied away from clear goals, Scholz sets the bar very high for himself. That’s good, because it creates clarity, after all, he promised the citizens: “Scholz will tackle it.” 30 million vaccinations by Christmas. If there are more than a million vaccinations daily, it can work. And 400,000 new apartments a year.

Scholz at ProSieben and Bild´-TV

Particularly refreshing: he is choosing new communication channels, now that the traffic light contract and the revised Infection Protection Act are on their way, he is much more present again. He is the type of politician who initially talks and negotiates internally with many, deliberates and instead of intermediate results at the end shows leadership and presents results. The most important appearance was the surprising one on ProSieben, when he reported emotionally about his visit to intensive care units at prime time and addressed a vaccination appeal to young people. Merkel did not dare to make such appearances.

Do you need “Bild, Bams und Telze” to rule?

However, the SPD politician Scholz also seems to be adapting the old Gerhard Schröder motto that “picture, bams and telly” are needed to govern. He was the first to explain his corona plan after the Prime Minister’s round at Bild-TV. And in terms of “image” he has now made the most questionable appearance. The day after presumably right-wing extremists of the Corona policy marched with torches at the house of the Saxon SPD health minister Petra Köpping, the tabloid had pilloried three leading scientists – contradicting the facts: “Trio of experts give us frustration for the party : The lockdown makers. ”The word should have got around what triggers this, right down to concrete death threats. Scholz has now appeared in the “Bild” donation campaign “A Heart for Children” on ZDF, which deserves all recognition, more than 27 million euros have been collected. Merkel avoided such formats and too much proximity to “Bild”.

Scholz does not help attacked scientists

Scholz thanked three pediatric nurses and nurses, presented them with a prize and was able to present the final donation. But he should also have used the stage to defend the scientists attacked by “Bild” in front of an audience of millions and to break a lance for their services in the pandemic. He needs her. His great promise is to create more respect and cohesion in society. Then he has to live it and fight for it. But the appearance was a wasted opportunity.