Olaf Scholz puts ordinary
people at the center of all
political decision political decision mmaking. aking.
I have known this for mI have known this for many any
years, having myears, having met with himet with him
frequently in the Euro-frequently in the Euro-
pean Union’s Econompean Union’s Economic ic
and Financial Affairs Coun-and Financial Affairs Coun-
cil while we were both cil while we were both
Finance MFinance Ministers. Re-inisters. Re-
cently elected as the Chan-cently elected as the Chan-
cellor of Germcellor of Germany, Olaf any, Olaf
never hesitates to mnever hesitates to make ake
tough decisions when nec-tough decisions when nec-
essary but always consid-essary but always consid-
ers how people will be af-ers how people will be af-
fected, imfected, immmediately and in ediately and in
the long termthe long term. He is prag-. He is prag-
mmatic, reliable, and solid, as atic, reliable, and solid, as
well as a mwell as a man of clear goals, an of clear goals,
who always stays focused who always stays focused
on how to transformon how to transform them them
into results. To minto results. To me, this is e, this is
the ideal recipe for a politi-the ideal recipe for a politi-
cian and a great inspiration.cian and a great inspiration.
WWe’ve been in tough e’ve been in tough
negotiations in the Ecofin negotiations in the Ecofin
Council on several occa-Council on several occa-
sions. Olaf, while staying sions. Olaf, while staying
true to his own objec-true to his own objec-
tives, was always the one tives, was always the one
who could see the work-who could see the work-
ing coming comprompromise ahead. He ise ahead. He
was also the one to get us was also the one to get us
there, using his breadth of there, using his breadth of
knowledge and respect for knowledge and respect for
all parties.all parties.
In these troubled timIn these troubled times, es,
I amI am truly grateful to have truly grateful to have
Olaf as mOlaf as my Germy German coun-an coun-
terpart. His steady leader-terpart. His steady leader-
ship is imship is important both for portant both for
the people of Germthe people of Germany and any and
for the rest of Europe.for the rest of Europe.Andersson is the Prime Andersson is the Prime
MMinister of Swedeninister of SwedenOOlaf laf
ScholzScholz
Steady hand
B Y M A G D A L E N A A N D E R S S O NB Y M A G D A L E N A A N D E R S S O NPHOTOGRAPHPHOT OGRA PH BY MBYMARKA RK PE C KPECKMEZIANME Z I A N F OFOR T I ME 6363