Opinion
The problematic Merz premiere: once with everything, please!
Friedrich Merz scolded for years. He speaks presidentally as a chancellor. That may seem advisable, but scratches his credibility.
After 45 minutes there is no question of Friedrich Merz. At that time you already looked at the clock. Merz is banging from economic policy to more tariff bonds, talks about affordable living space and the minimum wage, border controls and the immigration country Germany, only speaks about China and then gives the African continent half a thought. Once with everything, please!
Friedrich Merz’s first government declaration will finally take around an hour. Longer than planned. The new head of government rams some plants in terms of foreign policy, which was expected. A rhetorical fireworks do not take place. He can do that.
This type of chancellor’s speech can be considered advisable: to spoil hardships that do not whip people, do not offer a target. After all, Merz now has to hold the coalition together. Angela Merkel did it for many years, too, Olaf Scholz.
But this tenth Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, present such appearances with a credibility problem. Wasn’t he started for a tough change of policy? And had he sounded very differently a few hours earlier?
Merz still gives the reformer the evening before
On the eve of the government declaration, Merz called for a “huge effort” from the Germans at an economic conference. Then the Chancellor said: “With four-day week and work-life balance we will not be able to maintain the prosperity of this country.” The next day it suddenly sounds different in the Bundestag: he speaks of the pride of the diligence of the workers in the country, warns a “joint effort” and talks about a serving role of politics. In places, Merz sounds like a social democrat, like Olaf Scholz.
He started his speech with thanks to that predecessor, Scholz, who still belongs to the parliament as a member of parliament. You can also count that, consider it a clever maneuver. But does it also seem credible to Friedrich Merz? A few weeks ago, Merz said about the same Scholz: “Olaf Scholz is the low point in 75 years of the Federal Republic.”
At that time Merz expressed the darkest forecasts, complained and struggled. Now his speech shapes a different motif: “We can cope with all the challenges on our own.” Yes, forget people. But not that quickly. Citizens certainly also understand the change of roles between the opposition and the government. But it also has to be credible.
Which face is the real one?
Friedrich Merz presents himself to the Germans with two faces. And that in quick succession. According to this government statement, many people in the country should ask themselves: What is the real one? Which can I trust? Are either the full -bodied announcements from the election campaign little worth, or a tough reformer as a presidential political seller is costed here?
The tenth German Federal Chancellor is now being caught up by his shadows at the start of office: his own brutal criticism of the previous government and the very fundamental promise of politics from the election campaign. He will have to fight these shadows, as will the economic crisis and dissatisfaction in the country.
“It is up to ourselves,” he says at the end of his speech. This applies even more to the Chancellor. According to this government declaration, his true face is less known than before.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
