(02-01-2017, 01:57 PM)Qvait Wrote: Look at the picture below. This pic was taken in May 2016. Merkel is the last one standing. Cameron and Renzi were fools for calling for referendums. Hollande lost ground after several terrorist attacks, now the French are most likely going to have a conservative leader (Fillon or, God forbid, Le Pen). The stupid Electoral College gave Trump the victory. Now that Obama is out of office, Merkel is the Leader of the Free World.

And Merkel did lose reputation too.
Former a politician, that was known for doing nothing and just sitting things out, she finally did something in the refugee crisis and got punished for it. Polls say, the new right-wing, partly-nazi-party "AfD" (Alternative für Deutschland, Alternative for Germany) is going to be the third strongest party in the elections in September with 14% or so.
Plus our Social-Democrats set up a good competitor. Martin Schulz, former EU-president, pro EU af, but knows no mercy for anyone on the right or religious islamists or unconstitutional lefts. If the people could vote directly for the chancellor, Schulz and Merkel would both get 41%.
It will be an exciting campaign period. Although I wanted to vote for Merkel in September, things have changed by now and I'm again unsure, whom to give the vote.