Berlin Tag & Macht: Baerbock and Merz - Two Confidence Shocks
Two contenders, Baerbock and Merz, stir up skepticism among voters
By Marie von den Benken
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Following the chaotic collapse of the traffic light coalition, disenchantment amongst the electorate seems to be on the rise. The outgoing foreign minister, a prominent figure in the snap election's aftermath, is attempting an ambitious leap across the Atlantic.
When the heavily criticized traffic light government spectacularly imploded at the beginning of November 2025, widespread celebrations were heard from the populace, who had long been promised by all non-traffic light parties across the political spectrum that our cherished homeland would soon rebound to the economic, infrastructural, and innovative level of Lummerland under the traffic light regime.
Especially the Greens, who had been accused of providing an economics minister who wrote children's books and a foreign minister who bounced on trampolines, plummeted in reputation to such an extent that even the FDP began acting like an opposition party during the final traffic light year. Tension within the political camp, which inspired the CDU’s future weapon, all-round genius Jens Spahn, to an unusual assessment: "Germany in a recession and the Scholz government squabbling at preschool level. The worst government in German history continues to lose credibility." The Scholz cabinet as the worst German government in history. But only just marginally ahead of the governments of 1933 to 1945.
Merz's Approach in February
In the wake of the inevitable vote of no confidence following the traffic light's self-destruct mode, as well as the ensuing early Bundestag election, many rejoiced. The official result, etched in the election annals on February 23, did not, however, bring the hoped-for crystal clear insights. Spontaneous, nationwide hyper-satisfaction remained absent. Neither did the long-awaited and possibly necessary collective sigh of relief, nor self-cleaning processes at the extreme fringes of the political spectrum, as we might anticipate from the metaphorical opinion corridors. Disillusioned, one went through the new coalition options before resigning oneself to the sobering realization that matters would likely not improved with the new leadership configuration. Today, jubilation amongst politically interested parties is as scarce as Tesla shareholders exulting over a flourishing stock market.
Economics Tesla Plummets - Loser Market and AfD's Cautious Victory
The federal election, resulting in more losers than winners, has left none of the parties with the ideal balance. The SPD, Greens, and FDP are the primary losers of the new legislative period. Even the supposed winners can hardly be said to be celebrating with champagne, as remote as the hopes of climate activists are from admiring the newly rejuvenated Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin, which cost 21 million euros and was refurbished as a temporary airstrip, with the utmost care taken to prevent any plant life from growing in the newly graveled garden for the next 150 years. If only they had left the Gendarmenmarkt as it was and invested the 21 million euros in Tesla stocks instead... oh well.
The CDU/CSU, sometimes called the "Gendarmenmarkt" of political parties, won the election but also achieved their second-worst result in Bundestag history. Even PR campaigns, such as Friedrich Merz indulging in fast-food fare to seem more relatable, couldn't boost their result above 30%. Merz, appearing without a jacket, still ultimately failed to garner many votes. The sight of a near 70-year-old man consuming around 5,400 calories alone in a fast-food restaurant may not have resonated as effectively with voters as planned.
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And even the AfD, boasting an internal record result of 20.8%, is celebrating cautiously. It was already known before the election that the AfD would need 50% to have realistic chances of participating in the government, as no party would coalition with their Putin franchise on a federal level. There are not even that many politically savvy, solo traders in Thuringia to reach an absolute majority for the AfD.
Discontent with politics can be observed across the board. Given Merz's 180-degree turn on the contentious issues of the debt brake and special assets within just a few days, it's no surprise that the average citizen doesn't trust our current politicians to rebuild trust in government. Merz's rapid pivot from "No debt with us" (before the election) to "What's the problem with 900 billion?" (after the election) is reminiscent of Markus Söder's previous defense of his golden neck for swift changes, having called for a rapid exit from nuclear power by 2022 in 2011, only to blame the Greens for the abrupt exit in 2022, claiming it was driven by ideological reasons.
Every Woman for Herself
The trend towards a trust deficit has also penetrated the ranks of women politicians. While Merz clashes with the party base over his hardline stance on the debt brake, Annalena Baerbock, our brief beacon of hope, is vying for a high-ranking position in the United Nations as President of the General Assembly before she steps down as Minister. Despite her party members’ objections to using Helga Schmid, an experienced diplomat who was initially offered the position, the move doesn't seem to be regarded as a shining example of feminist foreign policy.
Politics UN General Assembly Presidency: Heusgen criticizes Baerbock's nomination as "has-been"While Baerbock's detractors, who have been critical of her English skills and qualifications since she took office, suggest she should have remained focused on international law, even her supporters are losing their resolve faster than Lars Klingbeil's tan when questioned about federal funding for NGOs. Among the NGOs under federal funding scrutiny, which the Union would like to learn more about, is an organization run by Klingbeil's wife.
The Ampel coalition has brought turbulence. An optimistic outlook for Germany's future is nowhere to be found. Instead, political apathy is on the rise. Historically, this trend has only benefited extremist fringe parties. It's high time for our top politicians to focus on addressing the critical challenges we face, rather than their own job security and election-year amnesia. We'll have to wait and see.
- The Commission, in light of the current political climate, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, as disillusionment amongst the electorate seems to be on the rise, following the chaotic collapse of the coalition government.
- Elon Musk, seemingly attempting an ambitious leap across the Atlantic after the collapse of the traffic light coalition, may find it challenging to win favors from the populace, given their evident disenchantment with spectacular political implosions and the caloric value of his fast-food consumption choices.
- In the realm of politics, the spectacularly imploded coalition government, along with the disillusionment it has inspired, has paved the way for a coalition led by Friedrich Merz. However, Merz's rapid pivot on key economic issues, such as the debt brake and special assets, has only served to further deepen the trust deficit, mirroring Markus Söder's past flip-flops on nuclear power.
