Who does Olaf Scholz listen to?
Unlike Angela Merkel, he likes his meetings short and one-on-one
Berliners call it the Washing Machine. Yet lately the sound coming from the giant cube of concrete and glass where German chancellors work has not been a whirr of efficiency but a clank of discord. Whether against European neighbours, American allies or partners in Germany’s own three-party coalition, the tight circle of advisers that has ringed Olaf Scholz since he took office 16 months ago seems to have a penchant for getting into fights.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Who does Germany’s chancellor listen to?”
From the April 8th 2023 edition
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