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Merkel named world’s ‘second most eloquent leader’

Angela Merkel has once again been praised for her leadership skills - even if her public speaking style doesn't resonate with everyone, according to a new study.

Published: 7 August 2020 17:07 CEST

Merkel named world's 'second most eloquent leader'

Merkel at a meeting with other EU leaders in Brussels on July 20th. Photo: DPA

Experts from the UK-based Development Academy spent 12 months analysing the communication and presentation skills of world leaders from 100 hours of footage from press conferences, speeches and other public addresses.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel scored highly, being placed second on the list of ten behind New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Both are followed by Narenda Modi, Prime Minister of India and Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. The full list is available here.

Merkel places second

The Development Academy praised Merkel for her direct, calm, and controlled manner, as well as her ability to project confidence and control, particularly during the coronavirus crisis.

Merkel expresses “confidence and experience at a time that this is in short supply, by keeping gestures to a minimum and her tone of voice even,” they wrote.

Merkel has not always been thought of so highly for her public speaking, however. In 2014, her speeches were profiled as ‘monotone’ by the New Yorker and she is widely known to be unemotional and direct.

Photo: DPA

In fact, her tendency to be measured and methodical and, above all, hesitate before reacting publicly has inspired the word ‘Merkeln’ – a verb that according to the German dictionary publisher Langenscheidt, means ‘ to do nothing, make no decisions, issue no statements’.

Her speeches during the coronavirus crisis have, however, generated widespread praise, with many citing Merkel’s past as a scientist for her clear explanations and grasp of the facts of the public health crisis.

Many have cited her once-mocked straightforwardness as crucial in a time of instability and upheaval.

The German Chancellor’s ability to handle the crisis has been reflected in the polls, with Merkel’s centre-right CDU/CSU bloc enjoying their highest ratings in years of around 32 to 35 percent in late March.

Meanwhile, a new poll on Sunday confirmed that Merkel remains the most popular politician in Germany.

Women lead the way in list despite low representation

Merkel joins other women scoring highly in the Development Academy’s list with five appearing in the top ten (or making up 50 percent), despite only 19 countries out of 193 (9.8 percent) having a female head of state or female government.

“There are some fantastic – and not so fantastic – examples of public speakers from this research,” said Ben Richardson, Director at Development Academy.

“It’s fascinating that although there are only around 10 percent of women in leadership roles worldwide, female leaders make up 50 percent of the top communicators.”

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Output is expected to expand 0.3 percent this year, the economy ministry said, up from a prediction of 0.2 percent in February.

The slightly rosier picture comes after improvements in key indicators — from factory output to business activity — boosted hopes a recovery may be getting under way.

The German economy shrank slightly last year, hit by soaring inflation, a manufacturing slowdown and weakness in trading partners, and has acted as a major drag on the 20-nation eurozone.

But releasing its latest projections, the economy ministry said in a statement there were growing indications of a “turning point”.

“Signs of an economic upturn have increased significantly, especially in recent weeks,” Economy Minister Robert Habeck said at a press conference.

The ministry also cut its forecast for inflation this year to 2.4 percent, from a previous prediction of 2.8 percent, and sees the figure falling below two percent next year.

“The fall in inflation will lead to consumer demand — people have more money in their wallets again, and will spend this money,” said Habeck.

“So purchasing power is increasing, real wages are rising and this will contribute to a domestic economic recovery.”

Energy prices — which surged after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — had also fallen and supply chain woes had eased, he added.

Several months ago there had been expectations of a strong rebound in 2024, with forecasts of growth above one percent, but these were dialled back at the start of the year as the economy continued to languish.

‘Germany has fallen behind’

But improving signs have fuelled hopes the lumbering economy — while not about to break into a sprint — may at least be getting back on its feet.

On Wednesday a closely-watched survey from the Ifo institute showed business sentiment rising for a third consecutive month in April, and more strongly than expected.

A key purchasing managers’ index survey this week showed that business activity in Germany had picked up.

And last week the central bank, the Bundesbank, forecast the economy would expand slightly in the first quarter, dodging a recession, after earlier predicting a contraction.

German Economics Minister Robert Habeck

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) presents the latest economic forecasts at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, April 24th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Michael Kappeler

Despite the economy’s improving prospects, growth of 0.3 percent is still slower than other developed economies and below past rates, and officials fret it is unlikely to pick up fast in the years ahead.

Habeck has repeatedly stressed solutions are needed for deep-rooted problems facing Germany, from an ageing population to labour shortages and a transition towards greener industries that is moving too slowly.

“Germany has fallen behind other countries in terms of competitiveness,” he said. “We still have a lot to do — we have to roll up our sleeves.”

Already facing turbulence from pandemic-related supply chain woes, the German economy’s problems deepened dramatically when Russia invaded Ukraine and slashed supplies of gas, hitting the country’s crucial manufacturers hard.

While the energy shock has faded, continued weakness in trading partners such as China, widespread strikes in recent months and higher eurozone interest rates have all prolonged the pain.

The European Central Bank has signalled it could start cutting borrowing costs in June, which would boost the eurozone.

But Habeck stressed that care was still needed as, despite the expectations of imminent easing, “tight monetary policy has not yet been lifted.”

In addition, disagreements in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party ruling coalition are hindering efforts to reignite growth, critics say.

This week the pro-business FDP party, a coalition partner, faced an angry backlash from Scholz’s SPD when it presented a 12-point plan for an “economic turnaround”, including deep cuts to state benefits.

Christian Lindner, the fiscally hawkish FDP finance minister, welcomed signs of “stabilisation” in the economic forecasts but stressed that projected medium-term growth was “too low to sustainably finance our state”.

“There are no arguments for postponing the economic turnaround,” he added.