The ink has barely dried on the election results when Germany’s (most-likely) future chancellor Friedrich Merz has already embarked on a journey to meet (or at least talk to) the other leaders of the continent.
And he was right to be in a hurry.
The challenges that await his not-yet-formed federal government need to be tackled with urgency – the very same issues and problems that have caused dramatic electoral shifts all over Europe.
But, for once, Merz might have some answers, unlike the previous German leadership, that allowed the country to slide into disarray.
It’s been said billion times that the war in Ukraine highlighted the vulnerability of the EU and its almost complete dependence on the United States when it comes to defence.
Yet, President Trump managed to drive the knife even further: as Washington started to negotiate with Moscow without its European partners, it became obvious that there was no place for Europe at the table of the big boys.
Friedrich Merz has repeatedly urged the EU to strengthen its defences (along with the possibility to find a replacement for NATO), claiming ‘my absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA’, because ‘the world will not wait for us. We must rapidly regain our ability to act’. He has already proposed talks with France and the UK about ‘replacing America’s nuclear umbrella’.
As the Bundeswehr is terribly understaffed and underequipped, there is a lot to do before real independence can happen – but Merz has already promised to increase defence spending and to implement a wide range of programs to change that.
Unlike Olaf Scholz’s government that ruined the German economy with the forced Green Transition, Merz wants to focus on economic growth. While he might not succeed with his plans to cut social benefits (a red line for his likely future coalition partner SPD), but Merz could ignite a continent-wide cooperation in order to enable Germany’s (and Europe’s) companies to enter the international competitive field.
Saving ‘Das Auto’ might be a good starting point – and the Commission seems to have received a memo from Merz, as it was just announced that the new emission rules would be eased, giving much needed breathing space to the embattled auto industry.
Expect more de-regulation coming from Berlin if Merz truly wants to revitalise German industry, marketing the brand ‘Made in Germany’, along with increased transcontinental cooperation (think Alstom-Siemens).
Less Green Transition might not also help to increase competitiveness while still keeping an eye on sustainability but might also ease the current burden of soaring energy prices. An issue that not only angered voters, but also delivered a serious blow on German industrial production. A more balanced approach to carbon fuels and nuclear energy could give that much needed spark that could jumpstart the stalled engine of Germany.
It seems that Washington might be also on board, as news emerged about secret talks between Moscow and Washington on resuming gas flows to Germany via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline – even if right now Berlin says that it is not in talks over the revival of the project.
And finally, the contentious issue of migration.
Merz’s much stricter views on the issue have been expressed repeatedly.
Thus, expect that Berlin will initiate a major overhaul of its immigration policies. The future chancellor promised to mitigate the negative effects of migration and to step up efforts to curb illegal migration, for example by repatriating those whose asylum requests have been denied or by initiating tight border controls and an entry ban for undocumented immigrants. Merz has also acknowledged the role Germany’s generous welfare system played in the recent immigration flows and vowed to turn off the tap.
If Merz keeps his word, he might be able to set Germany on a new course and reposition it into the leadership position the continent is in desperate need of.
