Watching with admiration the world’s largest elections: German envoy to the polls

German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann said on Monday that his country is watching with admiration the world’s biggest elections, which start in India on April 19, and that regardless of who wins, there will be “more of India” on the international stage.

Addressing a gathering at an event organized by a leading private university here, he also said that India’s G20 chairmanship “has given us a taste of that”.

In his speech, he mentioned the conflict between Iran and Israel, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and many other ongoing or unresolved conflicts around the world.

“In the midst of this very, very difficult situation, I cannot remember the world being in such difficult times as it is now. From Europe, from the perspective of the European Union, we see clearly how much India is emerging. We observe with admiration the World’s largest election that starts on Friday. This is quite an exercise, this is a festival of democracy,” Ackermann said.

The envoy said, “Whatever happens in these elections, regardless of who is going to win these elections, I think we will see more of India on the international stage.”

“The G20 presidency has given us a taste of that. India claims a seat at the big table, and we, Germans and Europeans, rightly think so. Whether it is the UN Security Council or elsewhere, India is and must become more visible and recognized. ,” he added.

India’s yearlong chairmanship of the influential bloc had begun on December 1, 2022, ahead of the G20 summit last September where the New Delhi Declaration was announced.

“The G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, held on September 9 and 10, brought the deliberations under our G20 Presidency to a successful culmination. Now that the G20 includes all the P5 countries, and is responsible for 85 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of world trade and It was the most important international meeting in the history of independent India,” reads a summary on its website Indian Presidency of the G20.

The theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, based on the age-old belief of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, was endorsed by all. “With over 200 meetings in 60 Indian cities across our 28 states and 8 UTs, through 40 different mechanisms including Sherpa and Finance Track Working Groups, as well as Engagement Groups, the size, scale and scope of India’s G20 chairmanship was unprecedented, ” it says.

The German ambassador said it is a role that “India deserves” like no other country.

“But it is a role that we must not forget that it also comes with high expectations. More than ever, India will be judged by many. Not only the countries of the so-called ‘Global South’, but also its international image and policies will be scrutinized,” Ackermann said.

And now many governments are looking to India, including the German government, “because we expect India to play a greater role in international politics,” he said.

“But you have to remember that it is a difficult undertaking, the task is not easy, and the hopes and expectations are different. Let’s say that Russian expectations of India are different from American expectations of India. How will India manage to navigate this new kind of role,” the envoy said.

The event was organized by OP Jindal Global University and the envoy delivered his address on ‘India-Europe Partnership in a Multipolar World’.

“It is in India’s interest to develop a strong and solid partnership with Europe, including with Germany. I think we are on the right track… Both India and Europe have a strong interest in maintaining the international rules-based order. ” he said.

First print: April 16, 2024 | 7:09 am IST