Friedrich Merz: On a narrow line of chancellorship - can he do it?

Friedrich Merz: On a narrow line of chancellorship - can he do it?

Deutschland - Friedrich Merz has an arduous way to the office of Chancellor. The CDU/CSU received only 28.5% of the votes in the last federal election, which was far behind expectations. In view of this situation, Merz faces the challenge of forming a coalition with the SPD to secure the government mandate. At 20.8%, he describes the success of the AfD as the “last warning sign” and emphasizes the need to create serious political alternatives in order to stop the rise of populist parties. In the coming weeks, Merz is planning "constructive, good, rapid conversations" with the SPD to form a government until Easter, as ZDF reports.

The Union must also cope with the consequences of an election result, which forces it to a self -critical analysis. The analysis of the election debacle, which affects both the SPD and its own party, was postponed by Merz and the Union. It remains to be seen which conclusions the parties will draw from it. In the meantime, Merz has to comply with the election promise that has broken up and accept debts to finance investments in order to gather the SPD. This demands that the loosening of the debt brake do not look in isolated, which leads to tensions in the negotiations.

coalition negotiations and political strategy

Merz and the SPD have already submitted a draft law that concerns a change in the Basic Law. This must be treated by the Bundestag, whereby a two -thirds majority is required for which the Union requires the support of the Greens. However, these have already formulated conditions for their consent and express criticism of the planned 500 billion euro special assets for infrastructural investments. Furthermore, the Greens have criticized that the exploratory paper from the Union and the SPD does not mention the word "climate", which is understood as a provocation, so Tagesspiegel .

In the political discussion, Merz also affected the economic challenges. Business associations criticize the high energy costs in Germany that inhibit investments. In view of this topic, the Union and SPD plan a reform of the civil allowance system and changes to income tax. The sales tax for food in the catering trade is to be permanently reduced to seven percent, while the commuter flat rate is to be increased. These and many other topics will be deepened in the ongoing coalition negotiations, report SPIEGEL .

Merz is aware that he has to show diplomatic skill in order to negotiate compromises. The political situation is unstable and any clumsyness could turn out to be disadvantageous for its ambitions. He has already explained that he had "nothing against a control over the entry" that joint solutions will be found in EU asylum policy by 2026. Merz also faces migration policy, one of the priority issues of his negotiations with the SPD.