Chilling with Merz: The Amiable Neighborhood Chancellor
Neighboring Chancellor's Unexpected Kindness Revealed
By Volker Petersen, Unfiltered and Unbiased
After a searing parliamentary declaration, Chancellor Merz sits down with Maybrit Illner, diving right into the hearts and homes of the German people. Here, he discusses his political roadmap, shares a chuckle or two, and even drops a potential disappointment.
A week after his inauguration, the new Chancellor continues to bask in the glory of not being the old one. In Maybrit Illner's casual chat show, Friedrich Merz presents himself as down-to-earth, eager to discuss, and easy to understand, distinctively distancing himself from his predecessor Olaf Scholz. Scholz was known for dodging uncomfortable questions with simply saying "No" or rambling on until the question was forgotten. But don't think Merz always offers bulletproof responses.
In terms of content, Illner seemed focused on dissecting the government declaration from Wednesday piece by piece. The duo rushes through topics like Ukraine, migration, economy, climate, and the inevitable AfD. Merz is careful not to resort to recycling a Merkel quote, instead offering a hopeful, "We can roll up our sleeves together in this country and say, we'll tackle this now and make it happen. I believe that's possible."
Politics and Diplomacy Tug-of-War
Politics and diplomacy often go hand in hand, and Illner didn't shy away from touching upon undeniable wounds, leading to some slight disappointment in what could be considered a first victory for Merz: the joint trip to Kyiv with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The four had threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with new sanctions if he didn't agree to a 30-day ceasefire. During these 30 days, talks were to take place to extend the ceasefire as much as possible. As history tells us, things didn't pan out as planned. Putin offered talks instead, in Istanbul that Thursday evening, but without a ceasefire.
The Looming Shadow of Sanctions
The threat of sanctions persists. Merz now admits that the sanctions decided on will come into force next Tuesday in Brussels. But what comes into force next Tuesday are not extra-heavy special sanctions from Germany, France, Britain, and Poland — these are merely the 17th sanctions package of the EU, which has long been in the works. Macron, for example, had previously spoken of "massive sanctions" that would be coordinated between Europeans and Americans.
A Delicate Dance of Diplomacy
As talks of sanctions heat up, it's evident that not every issue can be resolved immediately. Merz circles around the legal complexities of deportations related to migration. Must a state of emergency be declared to deport asylum seekers? And is it wise to anger our Polish allies by sending people back to them? Merz demonstrates his subtle negotiation skills here: No one who has entered Germany will be expelled, he claims. No one will simply be let in. That's the difference. Whether Tusk sees it the same way remains to be seen.
Faced with Economic Woes
When it comes to the economy, economist Jens Südekum is brought in. He insists on the swift implementation of the planned super-depreciation for corporations to stimulate the economy. Merz agrees they should be possible this year. He focuses more on contributions for pensions, care, and unemployment, which put a heavy burden on smaller and medium incomes. He acknowledges that adjustments need to be made to keep social insurance systems affordable and effective.
Arguably, a sticking point remains unaddressed: the proposed investment for children that his government wants to introduce.
Climate Concerns on the Back Burner
Climate protection takes a backseat, as it often does. Merz says that if he had followed polls, he wouldn't have mentioned climate change during his parliamentary declaration. The Greens are accused of having "over-moralized" the issue, strenuously pushing climate protection with a stern finger. Merz doesn't offer much in response, aside from the buzzword of technology openness and the rising CO2 price.
Raising Popularity - The Chancellor's Second Mission
Merz benefits from being the sole guest of the evening, allowing him to focus on the questions. He has a good night, winning the audience over with his easygoing demeanor and pragmatic approach. He comes across as genuine, tackling problems head-on. This evening could score him some extra points. Aside from the myriad issues and crises Merz must navigate as Chancellor, he is also tasked with enhancing his popular appeal. And, with his smooth performance on the show, he might just be one step closer.
The Commission in Brussels has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the Chancellor's emphasis on environmental science and the potential impact on the workforce.
In discussing the government's political roadmap, Chancellor Merz underscored the importance of addressing climate-change, despite its current backseat position in national discourse, citing the need for technology openness and a rising CO2 price as key solutions.
As politics and diplomacy intertwine in climate-change discussions, Merz's approach to migration and deportation policies could have broader implications for environmental-science, as well as appeasing allies like Poland, in a delicate dance of international relations.
