World leaders: create certainty or feel the wrath

Donald Trump, Angela Merkel and Hassan Rouhani

It is so easy for us to call the leader of the country we live in to resign. For as long as I can remember, there hasn't been a moment without someone going public to either say 'The Prime Minister's days are numbered' or 'The Prime Minister must resign'. Theresa May cannot escape it, even Conservative MPs are prepared to give her a vote of 'no confidence', an indirect indication that the current Prime Minister is under significant pressure.

While I don't see Theresa May going anytime soon, she won't be short of resignation calls until her premiership ends. In other parts of the globe, big-name leaders are facing genuine pressures which could impact our world in a major way. There are three leaders in particular who're facing New Year reputational crises.

The first leader is, of course, Donald Trump. I say 'of course' because he's never shied from controversy. If I don't see him on the news for six hours, I think he's either had a fever, or accidently logged out of Twitter and forgotten his login details. Statistically, 2017 was a decent year for his government in terms of employment and the economic markets as more people in the States continue to find jobs while the Dow Jones figure closes on record levels almost daily.

But while Trump's administration is providing jobs and keeping the economy under some level of control, he's doing a grand job in sending the world on edge. His stance on global warming and his handling of international affairs have made organisations like NATO and the UN, as well as world leaders across the globe very nervous. Quite honestly, his views in general have rattled pretty much everyone on social media. Whether it is his on-going spat with North Korea concerning nuclear weapons; allowing alleged rigging of the US election in 2016 by Russia; or recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Trump knows exactly how to get himself on the front pages and unite the world in disgust.

Michael Wolff (Image: USA Today)

Right now, however, Trump has found himself in a spot of trouble as there's a new book out which promised to rattle the White House. Written by journalist Michael Wolff, it details the events over the past year in the Oval Office. Wolff claims to have conducted 200 interviews with Washington insiders so therefore defends its legitimacy and accuracy. Trump isn't a happy bunny and, in addition to tweeting his displeasure, he threatened legal action. This hasn't stopped the book being an instant bestseller.

In publishing this book, Wolff has re-opened the debate about Trump's future as US President for possibly the fifteenth time. What will it take for the former businessman to be impeached? Not that this is what I'm hoping for, however, further questions will bound to be ringing around people's ears about whether he'd follow a similar fate to the likes of Bill Clinton, Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon, who were all impeached during their presidencies. Sadly, it is only Trump who can diffuse this complex situation.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Angela Merkel is in trouble. The Chancellor hasn't done much wrong, apart from being unable to form a government. It's been four months since the German general election and as her party didn't succeed in holding power outright, a coalition is trying to be formed. This has proven a tougher task than Merkel anticipated, and now many are calling for her head.

The election back in September was seen as a disaster for Merkel. Her party lost 8.6% of the vote compared to the previous election, allowing Eurosceptic parties to take big strides. The result shook Europe. Merkel was seen as the centre-figure for big decisions which would affect the continent's outlook. However, her decision to effectively open the border to a million refugees from the Middle East and Africa divided opinion, with those against such action protesting loud enough to get noticed. Merkel hadn't recovered since and while she's respected internationally, it's another story closer to home.

Merkel has been German Chancellor since 2005 and is arguably the biggest name in European politics. So for her to be under the pressure she's in today is enough to make the entire continent a little nervous. It is ultimately up to her to make a call as to either forming a less-desired coalition with the centre-left, which seems the likely solution, or step down and allow her successor to form a government he or she wants.

Protests in Iran (Image: Washington Examiner)

You think Germany is getting tense, you obviously aren't following events in Iran. Many of the citizens in the Middle Eastern nation are far from pleased about the government they have. President Hassan Rouhani was re-elected in May 2017 with a stronger mandate, promising Iran to continue ahead, forging positive relationships with the West and therefore improve his people's standard of living. With the government's hostility towards United States elevated due to Trump's presidency, in addition to keeping innocent foreign nationals such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe behind bars, people in Iran are bound to feel restless.

As a result of recent events, many people have taken to the streets and protested against both Rouhani and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader. These became widespread and their government was rattled. Yet, instead of reassuring the public or changing laws for the better, Khamenei blamed anyone but his administration. Now it appears as if Rouhani's international reputation is laying in tatters, and it could be the Iranian people facing the unfortunate circumstances that follow. Already, at least 22 have died while protesting. Do the Iranian government seriously believe their current tactics will put themselves in a stronger position in the long-term? I see another revolution happening this year if things don't improve.

As we're in 2018, one big change to a powerful country's political structure has the capability to alter the world as we know it. The uncertainty in the air is mind-boggling and potentially dangerous. Stability in the United States, Germany and Iran is crucial, and something every other nation should take seriously.