The German Federal Election: Foreign and Economic Issues

Germans will go to the polls on September 22 to elect a new parliament. The makeup of this 18th Bundestag could have far-reaching consequences for Germany and its leadership role in the European Union and beyond. On September 10, the Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings and the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University hosted a panel discussion to assess the upcoming election and its potential impact on Germany’s domestic and foreign policy. The panelists discussed how developments, such as revelations that Germany cooperated with U.S. surveillance programs, may affect voters. The panel also spoke to how future coalition governments will approach U.S.-German relations, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, the conflict in Syria, the euro crisis and other geopolitical challenges.

The panel featured a prominent group of American and German officials and experts from across the political spectrum, including Ruprecht Polenz, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Bundestag; Hans-Ulrich Klose, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Martin Klingst of the weekly newspaper Die Zeit; and Jackson Janes, president of AICGS. Fiona Hill, director of CUSE, provided introductory comments and moderated the discussion.

This discussion is part of the CUSE-Heinrich Boell Foundation “Future of Europe” event series.