Matthew Hauser '23: Opinion: During Uncertainty in Belarus, Angela Merkel Leads Europe

As Belarus roils in popular protest over its 2020 presidential election, Angela Merkel is front-and-center in Europe’s response. 

Alexander Lukashenko, who is considered “Europe’s last dictator,” claimed victory in the recent  Belarusian presidential election. The announced result on August 9th was that President Alexander Lukashenko defeated the popular Belarusian human rights activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, with 80 percent of the vote. 

Many of the world’s democracies, including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, along with the United Nations and European Union expressed concern or criticism over the legitimacy of the election results, as did Tsikhanouskaya herself. Macron and Merkel have offered to mediate the situation. Since election night, protests have broken out across Belarus against Lukashenko. Belarusian security forces have clamped down on protests, and Lukashenko has resisted calls for a new election. 

Amidst all this turmoil, the Kremlin has remained neutral. Lukashenko is considered an ally of Vladimir Putin, and fears have increased in Belarus over the possibility of an intervention by Russia to protect the current regime. Lukashenko himself has requested aid, and Russia has propped up his regime in the past.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, along with the President of France Emmanuel Macron, warned against Russian interference and defended the protestors’ rights. Macron said Russian intervention would be “the worst,” and Merkel insisted that the protestors be allowed to voice their concerns “independently, without interference from outside — from any direction.”  

While other countries, including the United States, have condemned Lukashenko publicly, Merkel’s leadership is notable. At a time when the U.S. puts less emphasis on democratization and combating authoritarianism, Merkel’s Germany has taken the lead. Germany also recently gave shelter and medical care to Russian opposition blogger Alexei Navalny, who is currently being treated for poisoning in Berlin. Such actions and outspokenness have made Merkel a strong voice for democracy, and a central voice for Europe.