There is no new authorities in Germany fairly but, however after Sunday’s election, it is all however sure that Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) would be the subsequent chancellor. He, together with the CDU and its Bavarian sister celebration CSU, must discover coalition companions to control.One of many huge speaking factors for the reason that outcomes got here out is how Germany, and Europe will cope with US President Donald Trump.After his celebration’s victory within the election was confirmed Sunday evening, Merz stated that he wished to work on creating unity in Europe as shortly as doable, “in order that, step-by-step, we are able to obtain independence from the US.”Till just lately, this could have been a extremely uncommon factor for any chief of the CDU to say. In spite of everything, it has all the time had a powerful affinity for the US.”Merz aligns himself with the legacy of historic CDU leaders corresponding to [former chancellors] Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl, each of whom performed pivotal roles in strengthening transatlantic relations,” stated Evelyn Gaiser, a coverage advisor on transatlantic relationships and Nato with the Konrad Adenauer Basis, a German assume tank that’s related to however impartial of the Christian Democrats.Friedrich Merz, long-time transatlanticistIn 2018, Merz described himself as “a European of conviction, a transatlanticist, a German open to the world.”For 10 years, from 2009 to 2019, he was chairman of the Atlantik-Brücke (Atlantic Bridge), a famend German non-profit affiliation that promotes German-US friendship and understanding.”Merz’s celebration is essentially the most transatlantic in Germany, and he’s no exception,” Rachel Tausendfreund, a senior analysis fellow with the German Council on International Relations (DGAP), instructed DW. “He’s […] additionally a agency supporter of Nato, in addition to pro-European.”Merz even served one time period within the European Parliament within the early Nineties.From 1994 till 2009, he represented the CDU within the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament. He has all the time been a specific fan of the US’s liberal financial insurance policies ― in 2008 he printed a guide referred to as “Mehr Kapitalismus wagen” (which interprets roughly as “venturing extra capitalism”).Merz says that he has traveled to the US greater than 100 occasions, and in line with media reviews, certainly one of his idols is former US President Ronald Reagan.Merz and Trump: no love misplacedUnderneath Trump, nevertheless, the US is now not Merz’s favourite companion. Germany’s possible chancellor-to-be just isn’t keen on the brand new US president’s anti-Nato perspective and the Trump administration’s distancing from the US’ European allies, seemingly in favor of Russia.Merz spoke out after JD Vance’s speech on the Munich Safety Convention (MSC) in February, wherein the US vice chairman stated that the largest menace to Europe didn’t come from Russia or China, however “from inside.” “That is actually now the change of an period,” Merz stated on stage on the MSC. “If we do not hear the wake-up name now, it is likely to be too late for all the European Union.”Trump didn’t congratulate Merz immediately on his election win, however did reward Germany’s “conservative celebration” in a put up on his social media platform Reality Social after the German election outcomes have been launched. Since taking workplace on January 20, Trump has doubled down on his assertion that Europeans must step up their protection funding to allow them to deal with their very own safety themselves. The implication is evident: The US will not be defending you ceaselessly.That is why even the obscure congratulatory put up the US president shared after the CDU’s win got here considerably as a shock.Similarities in home coverage, variations internationallyRegardless of the rhetoric, Trump and Merz do have some issues in frequent, primarily their strategy to nationwide affairs.”They’re each pro-business, anti-regulation conservatives,” Tausendfreund stated. “Each have used robust… language about immigrants and left-wing protesters.”Trump and Merz wish to curb irregular migration, for instance by fortifying or higher controlling nationwide borders. Merz’s robust stance on migration, and wanting to show asylum seekers away at German borders, might need helped him win the German election. The second-strongest celebration was the far-right AfD, which is understood for its racist and xenophobic rhetoric.Immigration has lengthy been certainly one of Trump’s favourite subjects, too. Throughout his 2024 marketing campaign, he vowed to proceed constructing a wall alongside the border with Mexico, and blamed migrants for many issues the US confronted.Merz and Trump additionally share a conservative ideology in the case of questions associated to gender. Requested in a TV debate what he considered Trump’s assertion on Inauguration Day that the US would henceforth solely acknowledge two genders, Merz stated he might effectively perceive.However in the case of overseas coverage, the 2 males are worlds aside. Merz has made it very clear that Germany will proceed to face by Ukraine, and has reiterated that Europe should be robust and unified within the face of the US turning towards Russia.”What we additionally see with the best concern, in fact, is the try [by Trump] to make a cope with Russia on Ukraine over the heads of the Europeans, over the heads of Ukraine,” the CDU chief stated at a press convention on Monday. “It would come as no shock to you after I say that that is unacceptable each for Ukraine and for Europe.”Trump as soon as stated that he wouldn’t defend Nato international locations that had not paid their “justifiable share” in protection funding towards an assault by Russia.He needed to backtrack from this menace, however now not appears to treat Moscow as an enemy. He just lately introduced he would meet together with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to debate the continuing conflict in Ukraine.Can Merz be Europe’s spine in dealing with Trump?As soon as a authorities is shaped, Germany will possible attempt to construct a powerful inner-European coalition to make up for the US turning away.”I might count on a CDU-led authorities to imagine a extra influential function inside the European Union and advance a united and powerful European place,” stated Gaiser from the Konrad Adenauer Basis. “As chancellor, Friedrich Merz’s major goal will likely be to quickly strengthen Europe — whose financial energy he ceaselessly emphasizes — and improve its independence as a world actor.”Tausendfreund from the DGAP additionally believes Merz will wish to enhance European cooperationregarding safety and Ukraine, to ship a transparent sign the continent can go it alone, with out the US beneath Trump. She stated that it might be attention-grabbing to see how he fares, since he has by no means been the pinnacle of a German metropolis, state or the nation as an entire.”Merz is kind of fully untested as a political chief, so we do not understand how as much as the problem he’s,” Tausendfreund stated. “However he does appear to know and recognize the stakes.”
