Kushal Pokharel

After serving for 16 years, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is stepping down in coming September. With respect to the rising public sentiment against her party of late, her willingness to vacate the top post without dillydallying is appreciable. Arguably one of the world’s most successful leaders, Merkel’s immaculate handling of the nation during testing times like the 2008 financial crisis or the refugee crisis in Germany in 2015 has received global accolades. Elected for record fourth term in office in 2018, Merkel is also an epitome of authentic leadership. Popularly known as the master of crisis management, Merkel has earned a strong repute of getting the nation out of a mess be it the global financial crisis, the Eurozone debt crisis or the recent immigration crisis. Her role to unite the country and large parts of the international community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has won hearts and minds of millions though the latest policy response to the COVID crisis has comparatively been ineffective in containing the virus disease as compared to last year.

Pressing challenge
At a time when leadership vacuum appears as a pressing challenge in the world, rare leaders like Merkel have led by example. Although Markel was initially haunted by humiliation and rejection in the global political arena as an ‘inappropriate’ woman to the coveted post, her resilience and network-oriented leadership has sung glory. Demonstrating the highest ethical standard while in office, Merkel exudes empathy, stability and reliability. Her pragmatic leadership suggests the significance of adapting to changes with the emerging circumstances.
Shunning visible dominance, an inflammable sense of honour and pride, Merkel has redefined leadership. She is among the very rare politicians never mired in any controversies, including corruption. With the right person in the right place approach, Merkel could make significant achievements in governance. Overriding any prospects of nepotism and sycophancy, her unflinching commitment to rule of law helped Germany to become a successful European nation even during some of the toughest times in history after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Moreover, her simple lifestyle without a desire for material gratifications stands at odd with the modern values of leadership centred around the desire for material fulfillment.
With her long-term vision, strategic thinking and commitment to excellence, Merkel offers very useful lessons for the global politics and governance system currently reeling under unprecedented human and ecological crises spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and destruction of indigenous knowledge system and practices.
Of late, Nepal’s politics is rife with the news of political bickering. Setting aside the pertinent issues of public significance, the political community is immersed in petty power politics. From unholy coalitions to inter-party transfer and various unethical activities, the entire political scene appears to be very frustrating and painful for a common public. While the nation is grappling with the mounting challenges of defeating a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis response mechanism has gone into total disarray. In the absence of a strong political unity to guide the administrative machinery for effective COVID-19 response, the problem continues to grow manifold. Crucial agenda of public health has not garnered as much attention as it should have gained.
Political humility is hugely missing. A sense of self-pride has deeply been imprinted in the minds of leaders. Empathising the public sufferings and challenges is not a priority. Instead, the notion of public as vote banks reigns supreme. Amid this scenario, the sophisticated life style of majority of Nepal’s politicians has created a sharp divide between the haves and the have-nots. This has only bred corruption in the country particularly after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990.

Unlike scene in Nepal
Apart from this, the longstanding issue of graceful exit remains unheeded. Quitting at the right time is another useful lesson that can be distilled. Sticking to a top most post in party or government for indefinite period of time has become a defining characteristic of Nepali politics. The problem is pervasive and the long-serving leaders are busy glorifying their leadership. There has been a fight among the leaders of the ruling party for the post of the party chairman and the prime minister. This not only constricts the possibility of a new leadership with new vision and thinking but also brings a lot of frustrations and pessimism to the general people who have long aspired to see a positive change through a leadership transformation.
The Merkel-style leadership is worth emulating. Her charismatic leadership is based on the highest level of integrity and commitment to a better service delivery.

(The author is an independent researcher and faculty of social science and research. kushalpokharel03@gmail.com)