The spread of COVID-19 and the ensuing global lock-down as governments try to slow the spread of the corona virus has tested individuals and institutions around the world. Since March of 2020, the ACG has stepped up its digital programming by hosting webinars and video discussions which bring together policy makers and thought leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss some of the key issues shaping transatlantic relations in an unprecedented time. In addition to organizing events on its own, the ACG has also partnered with other organizations such as 1014 and Atlantik-Brücke to launch new series designed to reach beyond the ACG community.
With just a few days to go, the race to succeed Angela Merkel as Germany’s next chancellor has become a nail-biter. The results of Germany’s federal election will determine the coalition talks for a new German government and the ultimate course of the country’s political future. To unpack one of Germany’s most unpredictable and transformative elections in recent history, we would like to invite you to an exclusive virtual readout hosted by the American Council on Germany, Atlantik-Brücke e.V., and The German Marshall Fund of the United States. Our experts will provide timely analysis of the results and consider the multifaceted implications of the outcome, including Germany’s role on the world stage and the future of the transatlantic relationship.
On September 24, the ACG hosted a discussion with Wolfgang Schmidt, State Secretaries in the Ministry of Finance and advisor to Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz.
Scholz has several key advisors yet few of them are as close to him as Wolfgang Schmidt, who currently serves as State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance. Their political careers have been intertwined for 20 years, and since early this year Schmidt has been an outspoken advocate for his boss. He believes Olaf Scholz is the best person to succeed Angela Merkel.
In the final days before Germans take to the polls in a historic election which marks the end of the “Merkel Era,” on September 22, the ACG hosted a discussion with veteran political observer and journalist Dr. Christoph von Marschall, on the candidates, possible coalitions, and what this election means for Germany, Europe, and the transatlantic relationship.
On September 15, acclaimed biographer Kati Marton, author of “The Chancellor,” a riveting political biography and an intimate human story of Chancellor Merkel’s rise and reign, in conversation with President of the American Council on Germany Steven E. Sokol. The two experts weave together decades of German political history to wrestle with the pressing question of where Germany is headed in a post-Merkel era.
On September 14 ACG President Steve Sokol moderated a conversation with Stefan Kornelius, Political Editor at the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, about Chancellor Merkel’s legacy, the outlook for the elections, and the likely implications for Germany of this historical leadership transition. This event is hosted by the Cleveland Council of World Affairs.