Last exit Merz
Never before has a German chancellor got off to such a bumpy start as Friedrich Merz. Nevertheless, many EU politicians are pinning their hopes on the CDU politician to lead EUrope out of the crisis.
It's a paradox: for most Germans, CDU leader Merz is anything but a beacon of hope. Only a few voters believe that Merz could somehow do better as chancellor than his predecessors Merkel and Scholz, as new polls show.
For many EU politicians, on the other hand, Merz is the last hope. He is expected to take the lead and mobilize as much money as possible to boost the economy in Germany and the EU. ‘Bravo, Germany,’ IMF chief Georgiewa calls out to him.
The fact that he is overturning the debt brake is highly regarded around the world - even if for most Germans it was the first time he broke his word. The fact that he wants to arm Ukraine to the teeth pleases the Putin and Trump haters in Brussels.
Disappointment is inevitable. Merz is spending a lot of money - but for Germany only, not for its European neighbours. A new EU debt programme is not on the cards with him for the time being, and war bonds (‘Eurobonds’) remain taboo for the time being.
Like many other EU politicians, he wants tougher asylum and migration policies. However, Germany's new border controls will primarily affect its European partners. Poland and Luxembourg have already lodged protests, the EU Commission is ducking away.
He has also announced a renaissance of the Franco-German ‘motor’ and a revitalisation of the ‘Weimar Triangle’ with France and Poland. But the coalition agreement contains nothing new. Merz himself probably does not know where he wants to ‘lead’ the EU.
The high expectations therefore say little about the new chancellor and his government - and all the more about the EU. Three years after the start of the war in Ukraine and one hundred days after Trump came to power, the EU no longer knows what it actually stands for.
Under the leadership of Commission President von der Leyen - a party colleague of Merz - EUrope has lost ground in every respect. Be it the economy, climate or war and peace - von der Leyen's ‘Commission of Last Chance’ has dashed hopes that were already low.
And now Merz is supposed to fix it? A politician with no experience of government? After such a bumpy start? With a government consisting mainly of beginners and career changers? In a country that is in a severe recession?
It would make you laugh if it weren't so sad...
The original post (in German) is here