The last macho of German politics?

This is a 4 minute read

You might be too young to remember, but 16 years ago Germany was ruled by fist banging, hair-dying Kanzler with a weakness for expensive cigars and pin-striped suits. 

The last macho of German politics, Gerhard Schröder, is a cliché from a long gone age. 

Gerhard Schröder - the last macho of German politics? © imago images / teutopress

In the Germany of 2020 young boys ask if they too can become Bunedskanzlerin. And old boys like SPD Chancellor hopeful Olaf Scholz muse at being called the “male Merkel”.

Merkel’s cabinet is almost gender equal and the CDU have promised that their electoral lists will have an even male-female split by 2025.

Had it not been for two recent remarks by members of the political elite, you could have been be forgiven for thinking that Germany - where a generation ago women had to ask their husbands for permission to work - was making progress on gender equality in politics.  

"I like to recollect, Linda, how over the past 15 months we've started the day together a…