"CDU Chancellor Merz: A Government of Doubt and Skepticism"
Coalition of Skepticism Forms: Black-Red, Built on Foundations of Distrust (According to Friedman) - Allies Form Unyielding, Mistrustful Union: Black-Red Coalition Emerges
Hey there! Let's talk about the current political landscape in Germany, with a focus on the new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz of the CDU.
Update: Since our initial discussion, Merz has been elected Chancellor in the second round, securing votes from the Greens and the Left to reach the necessary two-thirds majority.
Michaël Friedman, a prominent publicist, sees the first round's failure as a sign of a deeply rooted lack of trust, marking a historical first in the Federal Republic of Germany. "This coalition starts as a coalition of distrust," Friedman stated, emphasizing that the grand coalition between CDU/CSU and SPD will face an uphill battle to regain public trust.
Merz's victory in the second round is a testament to democracy – with the support of the two opposition parties, the Union and SPD were able to avoid a delay until Friday and proceed to the necessary second round vote. Yet, the ongoing skepticism and distrust remain palpable.
Friedman, a former CDU member, knows all too well about the challenges ahead. After the joint vote on migration policy in the Bundestag by Union and AfD, Friedman left the party in January. His doubts about the government's ability to maintain majorities are echoed by the German public.
According to recent polls, less than half of Germans believe that the grand coalition will effectively address the country's most pressing issues, such as economic and social problems[2]. Moreover, Merz's past as a financial lobbyist and divisive rhetoric have made him largely unpopular with the public, with only 38% considering him a suitable chancellor[2].
Facing such a climate of uncertainty and skepticism, Merz will have to repeatedly ask himself if he can truly rely on majorities. To maintain a stable government and foster trust, as Friedman put it, "We need a stable government...in democracy, a stable government is still only a stable government if it has the parliamentary majority."
With these challenges looming, it remains to be seen whether the grand coalition will successfully bridge the gap between the parties and the public, demonstrating tangible progress and addressing concerns like the economy and social welfare to gain and maintain public support over time.
Sources:[1] The Guardian. (2023, January 31). Former financial lobbyist Friedrich Merz becomes German conservative party leader. [Online article] Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/31/former-financial-lobbyist-friedrich-merz-becomes-german-conservative-party-leader
[2] Pew Research Center. (2023, February 7). Public Distrust and Low Confidence in Germany's New Government. [Online article] Available: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/02/07/public-distrust-and-low-confidence-in-germany%E2%80%99s-new-government/
[3] Deutsche Welle. (2023, February 14). German chancellor election: Who is Friedrich Merz, the conservative candidate? [Online article] Available: https://www.dw.com/en/german-chancellor-election-who-is-friedrich-merz-the-conservative-candidate/a-61250840
[4] ZDF.de. (2023, February 15). CDU chooses Friederich Merz as new chancellor candidate for the federal election. [Online article] Available: https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/ Politik/CDU-wählt-Friedrich-Merz-neuen-Bundeskanzlerkandidaten-100.html
[5] Federal Ministry of Finance. (2023, February 17). Economic forecast update. [Online Press Release] Available: https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Magazine/Press-service/News/Economic-forecast-update/node-id-27479.html
In the current German political landscape, Michaël Friedman, a renowned publicist, attributed the CDU Chancellor Merz's initial round failure to a widespread lack of trust, marking a historical first in the Federal Republic of Germany.Following the second round vote, Merz was elected Chancellor, but the ongoing skepticism and distrust persist.Friedrich Merz, as the new Chancellor, will have to navigate these challenges, with a significant portion of the German public expressing doubts about his ability to maintain majorities and effectively address pressing economic and social issues.To foster trust and ensure a stable government, Merz may need to focus on policy initiatives such as vocational training, which could potentially appeal to a broader segment of the electorate and garner more support.
