Friedrich Merz – Dr Oliver Hartwich

New German chancellor’s first week: from near-defeat to statecraft

13/05/2025

Friedrich Merz, newly confirmed German chancellor, quickly shifted focus from domestic setbacks to proactive foreign diplomacy, marking a stark departure from traditional chancellorship approaches.

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Germany’s post-election theatre of the absurd

01/04/2025

In Germany, Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz’s electoral victory has led to significant political missteps. His concessions to the SPD and Greens undermine his party’s previous fiscal principles, causing voter disillusionment.

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Emmanuel Macron (President of France) and Olaf Scholz (Chancellor of Germany) - photo by NATO, licensed under Creative Commons

Scholz promised stability, but Germany got chaos instead

21/02/2025

Germany faces deep-rooted issues stemming from Merkel’s inertia and Scholz’s mismanagement, leading to economic stagnation and diminished international standing, complicating future governance.

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Merkel’s legacy still haunts German politics

04/02/2025

Published in Newsroom.co.nz (Wellington), 4 February 2025 If you believe last week’s hysterical headlines from Germany, you might think the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is about to take power in Europe’s largest economy. The reality is more complicated. Last Wednesday, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz allowed a parliamentary statement on migration controls […]