Donald Trump and Angela Merkel are both stepping down, one as a bad loser, the other after 16 years of service with distinction – Angus Robertson

Changing leadership become a reality this week in two of the world’s most important countries with the inauguration of new US president Joe Biden and Germany’s CDU picking Armin Laschet as replacement for Angela Merkel.

Donald Trump shakes hands as he kisses German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the G7 summit in France in 2019 (Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

In Washington DC, the Democrat election victor will be sworn in on the steps of the US Capitol only days after his losing Republican rival Donald Trump supported insurrectionists who stormed the home of US democracy.

Thousands of police and National Guard troops are on the streets to ensure the handover of power is peaceful and that right-wing extremists are not able to disrupt the ceremony. Donald Trump is reminding everyone he is a bad loser and not a statesman by boycotting the event.

In Germany, Angela Merkel remains Chancellor until the general election in September. Delegates at last weekend’s virtual CDU conference elected the centrist Armin Laschet as new party leader. The popular premier of North Rhine-Westphalia is increasingly likely to take over from Angela Merkel who has served with distinction as chancellor for the last 16 years.

We can be grateful that both the United States and Germany will be governed by moderates who are internationalists and favour international cooperation.

The return to sensible progressive governance in the US and stability maintained in Germany, with the strong possibility of a coalition including the Greens, would be welcome for the environment and the Cop26 conference in Glasgow this November.

The UN climate change summit needs major countries like the United States and Germany to help drive coordinated action to deal with the climate crisis.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.