Merz on the world stage: Now switch now, Chancellor!

In order to get an impression of the pace at which Friedrich Merz is currently marching through foreign policy, you only have to take a look at the past 24 hours. It was only on Monday morning that the Chancellor re-adjusted the relationship with Israel by making the Netanyahu government an announcement.

Then he sounded as if he wanted to increase the pressure on Russia by announcing that Ukraine may now focus on military destinations in Russian hinterland. And later he flew to Finland to exchange ideas about Europe with the Nordic heads of state and government, via Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Once summit and back, Merz already knows that from his first few weeks.

As the chancellor’s maneuvers were well thought out this week, it still has to be shown. On the one hand, Merz sounded beneficial compared to his predecessor. On the other hand, it is completely open, which surgically follows from his announcements. Does Israel now get fewer weapons that Ukraine more?

It may be that Merz is really planning to fundamentally correct the foreign policy course in Berlin. However, the fact that he already made it clear on Wednesday that he only described a truth that has been in force for months in Ukraine in Ukraine makes him appear like someone who takes two steps and suddenly one back. In other words: Between strategic ambiguity and the approach to simply punch out one, a thin border sometimes runs at Merz.

So that no misunderstanding arises: that Merz is committed to being committed in terms of foreign policy, especially a sense of better European vote is to be welcomed. His predecessor has left a creepy balance. And that someone is sitting in the Chancellery again who says things that get stuck is not bad either. However, it would be nice if Merz would quickly translate the energy that he shows on foreign policy parquet.

Because – formulated very flat: the AfD cannot be fought from abroad. And isn’t that perhaps the central task of this government?

Merz has started as a man who wants to turn his country upside down first. Up the economy, reform social systems, close limits, motivate citizens: that was the plan. With the exception of asylum policy, only residual elements can be seen in the coalition agreement. Much of what black and red intends are vague, which is not beautiful, but does not exclude specification in the course of the rule.

If the center of this alliance meets for the first time on Wednesday with the coalition committee, this must be the guideline. How exactly does Merz want to relieve companies? How does he want to make work cheaper? How does he want to prevent the costs of health and care explode? Hundreds of billions are ready to finally invest in streets and bridges in the coming years. Does he have a plan for it?

It is an illusion to believe that the AfD could be kept small if you only governed and make laws without disassembling yourself. People also want to feel something when they deal with politicians, the success of the populists shows. But rule is a basic requirement for the fact that more trust arises at all.

The Chancellor promised that the country will feel a change by summer. In view of the global economic imponderables, this was reckless. Nevertheless, he should start to achieve this goal as soon as possible.