Chancellor versus would-be chancellor – Scholz and Habeck compete for primacy in economic policy

Stephenville, Toronto, Berlin Fishing boats are anchored outside at Stephenville Harbour, while inside the future is at stake. In the small town in Newfoundland, Canada, companies are presenting their hydrogen projects in an exhibition. It marks the end of the trip to Canada by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Deputy Robert Habeck. But above all, despite the idyllic setting, it is part of a race. Symbolic, but not only.

Scholz is on the left side of the exhibition, accompanied by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Scholz gives the Scholz: He listens to reports, always nods slightly, asks questions from time to time, then moves on, accompanied by numerous business representatives.

Habeck is on the right with a handful of companions. He cracks jokes, shows sympathy in the next second, and strikes up a conversation with the representative of the indigenous population.