KARACHI: Will the German electorate re-elect Angela Merkel for a fourth time, or will the political landscape be drastically transformed with a change in leadership? This was the question everybody was asking at the German consulate on Sunday while waiting for the election results to be announced. (Later in the evening, the results showed that Merkel had won a consecutive fourth term.)

A defining election most called it, with Merkel staying on as Germany’s chancellor, having led the country since 2005. This comes despite months of extreme criticism for her policies, especially of welcoming migrants and asylum seekers into the country. Though Martin Schulz’s SPD came second, biting at Merkel’s toes is the far-right anti-immigration AfD that has won enough votes to enter the Bundestag, the legislative body at the federal level in Germany.

With around 61.5 million German citizens eligible to vote this year, most of the German voters at the consulate were excited but also nervous about what the ticking hours would yield.

German Consul General Rainer Schmiedchen recalled how this was the second election he had witnessed from outside of Germany. “However, we are allowed to vote by letter and then our vote is taken into account.”

In the last few years, he observed, the election turnout and participation rate in the country had gone down. “In this election however, it is expected to be totally different. There are more people discussing politics in the country which had vanished in the early days of the federal republic. Now people are seen to be talking about politics in their working places and in the markets which shows that there is more awareness that something needs to be done about the various problems Germany is facing.”

Germany’s future government will have to face major national and international issues simultaneously. From the issue of immigrants, to economic growth and the looming Brexit, Merkel has a lot to deal with and the opposition is not going to make the trajectory easy.

As for relations with Pakistan, Mr Schmiedchen stressed that the progression of diplomatic ties between both countries should only get better after the elections. “We are interested in a prosperous Pakistan and that is the core of our relationship.”

“Being far away from home makes one appreciate the democratic process more,” said Anna, who was also eagerly awaiting the formal announcement of who was to lead the country for the next four years.

She admitted how being far away from home during polling time was relief in some ways. Away from Germany for several years, she admitted that it’s easier to hear about political developments when they had settled a bit. “However, I do miss the rumours and the anticipation of being there at the time.”

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2017