Frederick Merz wants to run on the ground. The Center-Right Christian Democratic Alliance (CDU-CSU) leader is set to become a German Chanman Chainman, as his party was not as strong as he was in the federal elections of Germany as he was expected.
At the age of 69, Merz has long been an impressive voice on the right wing of the orthodox block of Germany, but has never served as a minister. According to all accounts, he is likely to pursue power in Berlin what many people are doing as an apocal shift in transatlantic relations.
“For me, full priority will be to strengthen Europe as soon as possible so that we can achieve independence from the United States,” Marz gave CDU/CSUs about 29% votes on Sunday.
In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has pulled the rug from under the feet of Europe, interacting with Russia to end the war in Ukraine without Ukrainian or European representative.
With Trump at the White House, expert supervisors are talking about the end of the era where it may depend to reduce its safety on Europe America.
Merz is particularly clear about the US President. Prior to polling day, he told the German broadcaster ZDF that “it was necessary to prepare for the possibility that Donald Trump would no longer maintain NATO’s mutual defense commitment unconditionally”.
See from abroad
Somewhere else in Europe, congratulations to the leaders, almost immediately joined the demands. NATO general secretary Mark Rute on Sunday wrote in a post on Twitter on Sunday, “We are eager to work with you in this important moment for our shared security.” “It is important that Europe steps on defense spending and your leadership wants to be important.”
In Brussels on Monday, the European Union’s top diplomat Kaza Kalas stressed that the time was of essence. “German people have made an alternative, and now they need to keep the government together,” he said the Foreign Minister said.
“I hope they do it as fast as possible, which we need a decision at the European level, requiring German participation,” he said.
But Kalas, and the rest of Europe, will just need to be patient for a while. Merz and CDU/CSU now want to enter coalition talks. The first and most important, Christian Democrats Outgoing Chancellor will talk to the Social Democratic Party of the Sholaz, who won around 16% of the votes. Greens, which dropped up to 11%, can be relevant.
Those talks will not be easy. In the last decade, the SPD has seen its vote share as it combined with Christian Democrats for the so -called “Grand Alliance” of the two major German political parties, and then in an unlikely alliance with Green and Pro -Bisship FDP.
On Monday, Merz told the German media that he was aiming to hold the government in about two months. The SPD leadership indicated that his entry into the coalition government was not indicated.
Reboot for Franco-German Engine?
For the European Council’s Camily Grand on foreign relations, French officials are ready to change the Chancellori. He wrote in a statement on Monday, “The Franco-German engine … is largely relaxed under the scools, perhaps one all-time low in bilateral relations.”
,[In addition] Germany seems to have saved a minority government from the worst situation, and that the rise of AFD lies, “Grand continued, referring to a distant option for the German party.
AFD scored a stunning 21%, but the migration policy has been sidelined from the coalition negotiations despite some positive overtreters from Merz in recent weeks. Thesis was poorly obtained in Germany.
Under the outgoing tripartite alliance led by German Chanman Chainman Olaf Sholaz, Germany was considered as Hamstrang by European partners and belonging to domestics politics. In Brussels, according to Rafael Los of ECFR, Berlin is expected to have more decisive leadership.
“Merz wants Germany’s Chanmani to be supported by a more harmonious alliance than the shollaz,” he told DW in an email.
“This reduces the risk of deadlock of the alliance, which forces Germany to change or change its vote on small information in Brussels talks. On the other hand, Merz probably as a climate and migration on problems with the European Commission Will search, “Los said. In general, their arrival strengthens political rights in Europe.
Deep excavation for defense
In recent weeks, in the light of Trump’s comments and actions, the debate about the increase in defense spending in Europe has renewed. The European Commission estimates that the European Union needs to spend € 500 billion ($ 523 billion) in the next decade.
A warmly seen topic would be whether Merz can throw his weight behind the United European Union, which can borrow to fund a militarization investment. The Sholaz has rejected this possibility, while Merz has indicated more opesiness.
Whatever its owner is willpower, a lot has been deposited on whether the merz can get the two-thirds support of the German Bundestag to release the constitutionally “debt break” of the country.
Another option at the European Union level may be to loosen the shared fiscal rules of the block.
Very difficult on Washington?
Meanwhile, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Castutis Budris indicated DW that the total freedom of freedom from Washington could be prematurely.
“Now there is no alternative to American presence in Europe, for American capabilities that are lacking. Even if we start spending 5% for our defense needs this year, we cannot build those capabilities, Even in five or 10, five or 10, “he told DW in Brussels on Monday.
“If NATO collapses, if all security architecture collapses, everyone is in danger and everyone will face … existence threats,” he said, highlighting Germany.
In addition, Budris made a call to Germany to provide Ukraine with long distance weapons, the outgoing administration in Berlin dismissed a bid to avoid war growth.
As the coalition conversation comes out in the coming weeks, the German fellow will be looking closely for the signs of the movement.
Rosie Birchord contributed reporting to this article.
Edited by: M. Cavanagh
