Germany needs a unifier. In Friedrich Merz, it is getting a chancellor whose instincts are to divide | Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes
A A few weeks before the federal elections in Germany in late February, Friedrich Mirz was forced to back down after a Gambit Gambit is horrific gold. His attempt to win his votes caused a cruel campaign to migrate on a rebellion in his Christian Democratic Party (CDU). Instead of placing himself as a strong leader, he undermined the entire German political establishment.
The Mirz strategy included breaking taboo by relying on right -wing nationalists to pass legislation for the first time in Germany’s history after the war. This step breaks the middle -based parties in the country in the Bundestag, The mass protests ignited And led to a A rare general reprimand From the former counselor and leader of CDU Angela Merkel.
Despite the reverse reaction, Mirz stuck to his brand exchange and refused to back down from a disturbing precedent situation. He is the only one Unfortunately He admitted that he wanted to see a different result. This is the man who takes matters in the central power in Europe, and the train has a cause of concern.
The 69 -year -old conservative will take place as a consultant on May 6, at a moment of the deep account of Germany. The post -war promise Wohlstand für alle (Prosperity for all) is slipping away, with high inequality and The fifth German Facing poverty or social exclusion. Besides the permanent gap from the east and west, the new fractures divided the safe, unstable working -class professionals, old from Young, Urban from rural homes, from homeowners from tenants. Railways and railways collapse, the digital infrastructure behind times, and the education system is struggling to equip the workforce in the demands of the advanced economy.
Country The industrial base excels Under high energy costs, outdated technology and suffocating bureaucracy. One day dominant car manufacturers reeling between arrogance and increasing competition from China. Commercial wars Donald Trump have transformed the economy’s dependence on exports into a flagrant gap, while Vladimir Putin’s aggression forced Germany to confront the threat of war.
On this background, the Für Deutschland Party is a pro -Russian alternative, Decree With the Merz -led Merz bloc in opinion polls, the comfortable illusion was destroyed that the past of Germany has beenolated from the calls of siren for the national people. Local Intelligence Agency in Germany last week specific AFD, which is now the largest opposition party, is a “sure, right -wing” force.
In the face of these challenges, Germany needs a crowd that can combine a nation divided with vision and purpose. But instead of a character like John F. Kennedy, who motivated the United States Plans of the Moon GroupIt is an operator approaching David Cameron. The MERZ migration bill finds an echo in the gambling of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Both politicians tried to harness the national popular causes and lose control. The difference is that Merz still has time to change the path, although its record provides a great reason for optimism.
In the weeks that have passed since their victory in the elections, the next consultant swinging back and forth. After flirting with AFD on the immigration campaign, he took a more difficult line against cooperation after the elections with the far right and offered concessions to beat social democrats for a ruler alliance.
After the election campaigns on financial restraint, Mirz suddenly turned the debt financing by pushing constitutional reforms in a hurry with social democrats and vegetables Open hundreds of billions of euros In borrowing for defense and infrastructure. Although the changes in the debt brakes restricted in Germany have long been delayed and feel joyful by European allies, the sudden step of doubt at home and contributed to pressure from conservative allies, who worried that Mirz was giving many socialist democrats in the center. He answered before Pledge to click on spendingMainly at the expense of the most vulnerable German groups.
Mirz was trained as a corporate lawyer, and he never managed a country, ministry, or even a boycott council. He was famous for being creative and chocolate, he abandoned politics after Merkel prevented his way to power, and he only returned to understand his chance in the vacuum she left behind. But until then, it took it Three attempts To secure CDU driving.
Instead of building bridges, MERZ expanded often. In 2000, when he was competing with Merkel to control Christian Democrats, he suggested the concept of German leitkultur This means literally “the leading culture” – and called the migrants to agree with a set of basic traditions of belonging to a truly affiliation.
In late 2023, this debate revived. In an attempt to drink the mysterious term in the sense, Mirz suggested that Buy a Christmas tree It was part of being a truly German – except for the Jews, Muslims, Hindus and secular Germans in this process.
It was not a tongue slip. The man from the Cyrieland countryside in West Germany called immigrant children.Small Basas“The Ukrainian refugees accused”Tourism luxuryHe claimed that foreigners misuse the health system in Germany. “To rewrite their teeth– Perfect infections that it drew a public refute from the German Association of Dentistry.
His reputation and his last deeds Mirz were zigzag towards the office, with only 36 % approval-between the left-wing Heidi Reichnik and the team participating in AFD Alice Wired, according to another. Bild reconnaissance.
Away from being a knockout to AFD progress, its classification as extremist risks playing in the anti -Foundation party narration. The Trump administration’s reaction – Foreign Minister Marco Rubio called on the German Intelligence Agency’s move.Type in camouflage– Emphasizes how relationships have become risky.
To change things, Mirz needs to find his feet quickly, and showed that he could be the adviser to all Germans and draw a road towards the future. With the debt spending package, he has the resources available to him. But regardless of the bold announcement of this “that”Germany returnedOn the global theater, he made a little effort to sell the plan to the public or set goals and goals. This needs to be changed, and a bold reset from the social contract is needed.
The truth is that the Merz financing plan is Moonshot in Germany, but it lacks a launch and destination. The country will not be able to reach these resources for the second time and the new advisor needs to count. Otherwise, AFD will find itself with a clearer path to power. By resuming popular feelings and deepening sections at home GermanyMirz may unintentionally enable a more extreme political transformation, as Cameron did in the United Kingdom.
