In Germany's parliamentary elections Sept. 24, Chancellor Angela Merkel will be seeking her fourth term.

Based on her personality and approach, and Germany's prosperity, Merkel and Germany have emerged as the leaders of what could still be called the Western world in terms of democracy and principles. France has taken an iconoclastic approach to its traditional parties, the United Kingdom is in disarray with Brexit and trying to figure out its future, and the United States' election of Donald Trump has upended the traditional trans-Atlantic alliance.

Germany can be said to be doing quite well, economically and politically. Unemployment has dropped from 11.2 percent when she became chancellor in 2005 to 3.8 percent today. Wages continue to rise. Germany shows a budget surplus of $31 billion. Its economic record has been marred only by the falsified vehicle emissions tests scandals.

Noting as prelude the surprise elections of Trump and Emmanuel Macron in France, and the British vote against continued membership in the European Union, it is probably safe nonetheless to assume that the CDU and the CSU, with Merkel in the lead, will win the Sept. 24 elections. Given her steady hand, that should be seen as a good thing, for Germany, Europe, the United States and the world.

Editorial on 09/15/2017