Germany’s New Government is in Place: What will it do now?

The Merkel era is over. Last week a new government led by the center-left Social Democrats – together with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats – took office. How much of a break will this be from the conservative-led governments over the past 16 years under the leadership of Angela Merkel?

The new government made up of three parties exemplifies continuity and change. As the coalition agreement shows, we can expect consensus and stability – but this government also wants to go in new directions and address important challenges facing the country. This government is likely to be more progressive and future-oriented than its predecessor.

Join us on December 17 at 11:00 am ET for an online discussion about the new German government with the Political Editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Stefan Kornelius.

Stefan Kornelius is the Political Editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Previously he served as Foreign Editor of the paper for nearly 20 years. In his reporting career, he has covered Germany’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU), the chancellorship of Helmut Kohl, and defense issues in Europe. He served as Berlin Bureau Chief, and from 1996 to 1999 he was the paper’s Washington correspondent. Prior to that he was a correspondent in Bonn.

His biography of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, entitled Angela Merkel, the Chancellor and her World, has been translated into 13 languages. Mr. Kornelius is a graduate of the Henri-Nannen-Journalistenschule and studied in Bonn and at the London School of Economics.