In the media
07.05.2020

“She will be remembered as a true crisis manager”

In an interview with CNN, Andrea Römmele discusses the legacy of chancellor Angela Merkel.

Since the coronavirus outbreak, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s approval ratings have gone through the roof. Andrea Römmele, Dean of Executive Education and Professor of Communication in Politics and Civil Society at the Hertie School, said in an interview with CNN that the Chancellor’s surge in popularity could be seen both nationally and internationally.

“[…] for the first time in 150 years, the world is facing a global crisis and people are not looking towards the US for global leadership, they are looking to Merkel,” she explained.

Before the pandemic, Merkel’s popularity in Germany had diminished as she faced backlash for her handling of the migration crisis in 2015 - , and her succession plan had fallen apart. Merkel has already said she will not run for election after her current term ends. But whenever the country faces a true challenge, she shines as a leader, Römmele said.

“She will be remembered as a true crisis manager,” Römmele said, adding that the Chancellor always stepped up in times of crisis, such as the global financial crisis, the Eurozone debt crisis and the migration crisis in 2015.

“She is incredible, whenever there is a crisis, she does her best.”

Read the full CNN story here.

More about Andrea Römmele

  • Andrea Römmele, Dean of Executive Education and Professor of Communication in Politics and Civil Society