In refugee crisis, Angela #Merkel stands tall
▻http://www.thearabweekly.com/?id=2742
The debate over the wisdom of opening the door so wide in September has rekindled speculation about the future of Merkel. Can she survive the refugee crisis and run, and win, a fourth term? The next federal elections are scheduled for September 2017 and Merkel said in August — before the refugee flood rose to unprecedented levels — that she intended to run.
However, there is renewed speculation that Merkel has an eye on a post that would enhance her global stature: secretary-general of the United Nations.
In February, a group of prominent women from academia formed the Campaign to Elect a Woman UN Secretary-General, pointing out that there have been eight men to hold the job since the world body was established 70 years ago. It’s high time for a woman, the group argues.
Merkel is on the group’s list of potential candidates, alongside such figures as International Monetary Fund boss Christine Lagarde, former Irish President Mary Robinson, former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief. Before the campaign listed its candidates alphabetically, Merkel topped the list. Her stand on the refugee crisis has won applause from many UN members.