Opinion

How to Topple Merkel in 2017

It’s freezing cold outside when Gerhard Schröder invites us into his comfortable office near the zoo in Hanover. The former chancellor has just returned from representing Germany at Fidel Castro’s funeral in Havana and will be traveling to Turkey afterwards. But a number of things are also turning frosty in world politics. Which immediately takes us into a discussion about the dividing lines between East and West and maintaining stability in a world threatening to fall apart at the seams.

Mr. Schröder, who has drawn criticism in Germany for a closeness with Russian politicians and businesses since leaving office, says he’s less worried about Donald Trump than most mainstream politicians. Nor is Mr. Schröder particularly worried about Russian President Vladimir Putin. The key, he insists, is that the U.S. and Russian leaders find better ways to talk to each other.