Friedrich Merz, poised to be the next Chancellor of Germany, has committed to “fostering unity” across Europe as the continent adapts to the new Trump administration and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The responsibilities facing Mr. Merz will be heightened by the requirement to establish a coalition with the center-left Social Democrats led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who will remain in his role for the near term.
Despite its second-place showing, he has consistently promised to avoid collaboration with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is currently under scrutiny by the nation’s intelligence agency due to suspected rightist extremism.
Mr. Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats, alongside their Bavarian counterpart the Christian Social Union, which secured 28.5% of the votes, have collectively garnered 328 seats within the 630-seat legislature.
The 69-year-old, who prioritized strengthening Germany’s immigration regulations during the electoral campaign, expressed hopes to finalize a coalition agreement by Easter.
Analysts predict that this timeline may present significant challenges as both parties endeavor to discover common ground on essential policies.
Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Lars Klingbeil, suggested that reaching a consensus with Mr. Merz is far from guaranteed.
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The path to power may not be smooth for Merz
He stated: “The responsibility lies with Friedrich Merz. Only the progression of discussions will reveal whether a coalition can be established.”
With the re-election of US President Donald Trump and escalating tensions regarding the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, Mr. Merz aims to unify Europe amidst pressures from both the US and Russia.
“I hold no misconceptions regarding the situation in America,” he conveyed to supporters.
“We are under substantial stress… my utmost priority right now is genuinely to foster unity in Europe.”
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During a media conference afterward, he remarked: “There are three critical issues that require discussion. Primarily, external and security policy – especially in light of recent remarks emanating from Washington.
“It is evident that as Europeans, we must be capable of prompt action. We need to ensure our defense. This is a subject that will take precedence in the coming weeks.
“Another crucial issue is immigration – this is a domain where we have proposals. I anticipate that the Social Democrats will be open to dialogue with us on this topic as well.
“The third area of focus is the economic landscape. We must safeguard jobs within Germany’s industrial sector.”
He also previously took to social media to assert that “Europe stands steadfastly by Ukraine” and emphasized the need to “empower Ukraine.”
