Transcript
PHIL GORDON: Both in Europe and in the United States, we are, I think it is fair to say, inevitably on the verge of some significant political change. For a number of years, it is also, I think, fair to say that Europeans have not been particularly pleased with the leadership coming from the United States and have expressed that; and the United States and many Americans have also expressed frustration with what they have considered the lack of leadership in Europe. Well, one way or another, this could change and that is what we are here to talk about.
Obviously, there are elections in this country next week, and my colleague, Tom Mann, will address that and talk about the implications that could have domestically and for the transatlantic relationship.
I think even more compelling, in Europe, we know that political change is coming, at least in some of the big countries, the countries that are presented on this panel here. In Germany, obviously, already Angela Merkel has taken over, and that is a change of generation, of gender, and she has already been in power for a year now.
France has Presidential and Parliamentary elections coming up in the spring which will also be a likely change of generation. Nicholas de Boisgrollier will talk about that and possibly a change of gender there as well.
In Britain, we also know pretty firmly now finally. I think we have had panels here for the past several years in which we talked about Blair's imminent departure, but this time I think we can say that with more confidence, that by the time we next meet and have a panel on this, a new Prime Minister in Britain.
So there will be political change, and what we are here to try to figure out is what it means.
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