Merkel was known for maintaining diplomatic relations with Putin. During her tenure, Germany strengthened its energy ties with Moscow while keeping national defense spending to a bare minimum.

Her pressure on structural reform and austerity during the eurozone debt crisis, her determination to complete the contentious Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline with Russia, and her acceptance of jointly issued EU debt in anticipation of the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic were some examples of her leadership at the EU level.
However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shifted German politics dramatically.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel had been billed as the person Germans want to try to persuade President Vladimir Putin out of the conflict, until the final hours before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. However, as Russian bombs rained down on Ukrainian cities, a cloud has descended on Merkel’s 16 years in power, with some analysts questioning whether her detente policies with Putin have left Germany and Europe exposed.

After Russia’s first military operations in Ukraine in late February, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a halt to the Nord Stream 2 gas project that aims to deliver extra gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine and Poland.

Merkel’s major failure was not canceling those commercial ties and energy projects after Russia’s illegal invasion of Crimea in 2014, said Daniela Schwarzer, executive director of the Europe and Eurasia program spearheaded by Open Society Foundations.

Despite objections from Ukraine and other countries, including the United States, Merkel maintained her support for the gas project. Since taking office in December, Scholz has looked cautious in his approach to Nord Stream 2. As tensions with Russia escalated, he halted the pipeline’s certification.

Scholz’s recent willingness to transfer weapons to Ukraine and increase government defense spending marks a significant reversal in German defense policy post-World War II. The policy prohibited the transfer of locally manufactured weapons to combat zones.

However, Merkel’s legacy remains intact in the area of embracing refugees. At the height of a major influx of refugees into Europe, she had announced an open-door policy for those fleeing wars in countries like Syria. This gesture of 2015 will always be remembered. Although a large portion of the estimated 2 million who fled Ukraine have resorted to the nations closest to Ukraine, some have made their way to Germany where people have provided refuge and assistance.

Another portion of Merkel’s legacy, according to Schwarzer, that is still intact is that during Trump’s presidency, she was considered as the de-facto leader of the West, with detractors pointing out that Trump’s presidency weakened America’s influence on the global stage.

According to Schwarzer, Scholz has expanded on the same concept; he says the same things in a “more specific way.” This sense of obligation could be termed as a continuum of Merkel’s legacy.

(Attribution:  Kremlin.ru)

On Monday, Bobbie and Bill Kilberg began fundraising for Liz Cheney’s reelection in Wyoming. They thought that the Republican donors would be limited to a few dozens. They decided to host a cocktail party for them at their home located in McLean, Virginia. However, the numbers who wanted to attend and meet her and Mitt Romney were so many that they moved to a bigger venue and limited the number of invitees to 75.

If you wondered why Liz Cheney has become so popular and how come there is so much interest in her despite Trump’s avowal to ensure her defeat in the primaries, then the answer is the that this is the reason why she is getting Republican support as she is seen as an anti-Trump champion, which is welcomed by a section of Republicans. However, she needs to win in Wyoming first on August 16, to spread her wings at a national level.

Liz Cheney will face a strong primary challenger–Harriet Hageman. She is not only a one-time adviser of the congresswoman but is also endorsed by Trump and has almost totally cleared the field making a direct contest between her and Liz. Defeating Liz is one of Trump’s top priorities as she is one of the few vocal anti-Trump voices in the GOP.

When asked for comment about national aspirations, Liz Cheney’s spokesperson did not comment. However, Liz has been raising her profile by visiting New Hampshire and speaking at national Republican organizations including the Ripon Society. She has also raised huge funds. In the last quarter of 2021, she raised $2 million, which is a personal record.

Two famous Republicans, who have played major roles in the nation–George W. Bush and Mitt Romney have introduced their broad donor networks, directly to her. She also has a lot of familial support and she comes from an old and prominent Republican family.