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Two former PMs name their top Covid-19 leaders

Here's who has come out of this the best. Image: Getty
Here's who has come out of this the best. Image: Getty

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel has been praised as being one of the best leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic due to her scientific approach.

Speaking at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit on Thursday, former New Zealand prime minister and co-chair of the World Health Organisation’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Helen Clark described Merkel as “the standout leader of our time in office now”.

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Wide-scale testing and a rapid response to the pandemic has helped keep the European country’s cases comparatively low, with 9,452 deaths from 268,000 cases.

Clark, who is tasked with identifying shortcomings in the global response to the pandemic, said Merkel’s “sober measured leadership” and willingness to listen to advice was a key element in her success.

“She brings her scientific rigour to the job. I think she’s absolutely in a class of her own.

“What a pity it is that she’s announced that the curtain is probably falling on her time at the top.”

Merkel has a doctorate in quantum chemistry, and has also used her East German background to connect with those also concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement. The leader has seen her approval rating increase at a time when many other leaders have seen theirs plunge.

However, the German chancellor plans to retire in 2021 after 15 years in power.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd agreed with Clark’s pick, telling the Summit that Merkel “brings all the disciplines to bear” and approaches difficult questions with a scientist’s mind.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)

“I think her national leadership in what is Europe's largest economy, navigating a crisis – whether its public health and its economic dimensions, and also [being] sensitive to European pan-European realities has been right up there,” Rudd said.

But he also recognised two other women: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

Rudd said Ardern’s leadership has been a “first class” example of strong public policy, describing her as: “Seriously, very good.”

And Tsai, who presides over a population of 24 million, was also praised for her ability to limit the spread of coronavirus, despite there being significant traffic with China. Taiwan has had seven deaths and 503 cases.

“[She’s leading] 24 million people adjacent to China with massive traffic between the two parts of China, between Taiwan and the mainland, and she's managed to navigate this thing remarkably well,” Rudd said.

“So is it a gender-laden comment? I’m not sure. But I'm just pointing to the data. The data does or has shown that female-led countries have fared better throughout all this.”

Are women leaders doing better during coronavirus?

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech as she inaugurates an F-16 maintenance center at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) in Taichung, central Taiwan, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. Amid rising threats from China, Tsai on Friday said the self-governing island was determined to strengthen its defenses. Tsai said Taiwan wanted to “let the world to see our strong will in protecting the country.”  (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech as she inaugurates an F-16 maintenance center at the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) in Taichung, central Taiwan, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Analysis of 194 countries published by the World Economic Forum and the Centre for Economic Policy Research found that, statistically, female-led countries have responded better to the public health crisis.

The study, which removed outliers on both ends of the response spectrum like New Zealand, Germany and the US, found that women leaders “reacted more quickly and decisively in the face of potential fatalities”, said Supriya Garikipati, a developmental economist at Liverpool University, co-author with Reading University’s Uma Kambhampati.

“In almost all cases, they locked down earlier than male leaders in similar circumstances. While this may have longer-term economic implications, it has certainly helped these countries to save lives, as evidenced by the significantly lower number of deaths in these countries.”

The research considered population, population density, demographics, health spending, international travel habits, gender equality and GDP in its assessment.

Garikipati said the research indicates that while women were more risk averse when it came to the public health challenges of coronavirus, they were more willing to take risks in terms of the economic damage of shutting down their respective countries.

“Another explanation of gender differences in response to the pandemic is to be found in the leadership styles of men and women. Studies suggest that men are likely to lead in a “task-oriented” style and women in an “interpersonally-oriented” manner,” she said.

“Women therefore tend to adopt a more democratic and participative style and tend to have better communications skills,” the researchers added.

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