Politico: Germany’s CDU candidate for Chancellery Friedrich Merz… Trump of Germany!
The campaign of the leading candidate for the position of German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, revealed his slogan that reflects his vision of restoring “Germany’s glory,” inspired by the slogan of US President-elect Donald Trump, “Make America Great Again”.
According to a report by Politico, Merz is focusing on restoring Germany’s position amid enormous global challenges ranging from industrial decline to war in Europe.
“Germany must once again be admired by the world, not be puzzled by… I’ll do my utmost to rebuild a Germany that we can be proud of again,” Merz said in a video message after announcing his candidacy.
These ambitions come as Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union party leads opinion polls with 32% support, after the collapse of the ruling left-wing coalition last November.
Early elections are set for February 23, boosting Merz’s chances of fulfilling his long-held dream of becoming chancellor.
However, the circumstances surrounding Merz’s return reflect the atmosphere of a major political and economic crisis in Germany.
With the rise of extremist parties, the slowdown of the German economy, and the decline of Berlin’s role as a leader in Europe, the ability of any national leader to overcome these challenges seems limited.
Germany has always relied on three main pillars to ensure its security and prosperity:
- Defensive protection provided by the United States.
- Open international trade to support its export-oriented economy.
- Cheap energy from Russia.
But these pillars have been under great pressure in recent years, putting the German economy in unprecedented crises.
As Merz prepares to take power, the political landscape lacks a new strategic vision to replace these outdated foundations.
Merz presents a conservative plan to reorient German policies, including:
- Cut social welfare benefits.
- Reducing the number of asylum seekers.
- Encourage private investment by easing regulatory rules.
- Increase military spending.
- Maintain financial discipline.
However, the question remains about the extent to which these policies can achieve radical changes in the face of deep economic and political crises.
Merz faces significant challenges in moving away from the legacy of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who dominated German politics for 16 years.
Merz left parliament in 2002 after Merkel removed him from the party leadership, but he returned to political life with a bang after the 2021 elections, returning the Christian Democratic Party to the right.
Merz is seen as the candidate best prepared to take on US President-elect Donald Trump, especially given the tense history between Trump and Merkel, and has pledged to vigorously defend German interests while being prepared to strike political deals to boost cooperation between the two countries.
As Merz approaches the chancellorship, the biggest challenge remains how to deal with the complex crises facing Germany, both domestically and internationally.
While Merz promises clear positions and new policies, his success will depend on his ability to balance national ambitions with global pressures.
