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The Intelligence from The Economist

Parting Scholz: what next for Germany?

Nov 12, 2024
Tom Nuttall, The Economist's chief Germany correspondent, dives into the political crisis as Germany's ruling coalition collapses, raising concerns about leadership amid geopolitical tensions. Sasha Nauta, the social affairs editor, discusses a flawed study on racial disparities in healthcare and its implications on infant mortality rates. They also touch upon the transformation of King's Cross in London, highlighting its journey from industrial decline to a thriving hub of creativity and technology.
23:46

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Germany's political crisis following the collapse of its coalition government poses a significant threat to European leadership amid geopolitical challenges.
  • Recent research reveals flaws in the study linking better outcomes for black infants with black doctors, emphasizing the need for thorough data analysis in healthcare.

Deep dives

The Collapse of Germany's Coalition Government

Germany's fragile three-party coalition government has recently collapsed, creating a political crisis at a pivotal moment for the country. The coalition, consisting of the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats, struggled with internal disagreements that culminated in the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This conflict arose from differing views on whether to suspend Germany's debt limit to support financial aid for Ukraine. The collapse has resulted in a minority government led by the Social Democrats, with upcoming elections anticipated by February, raising concerns about Germany's leadership amid escalating geopolitical challenges.

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