Merz takes the reins of Germany against Hurricane Trump

The Conservative Friedrich Merz must be invested on Tuesday chancellor of a Germany weakened by the blows of Donald Trump, and forced to reinvent himself under the threat of a strong progression of the extreme right.

Expected with hope in Europe, the winner without glory of the legislative elections at the end of February, who proclaims that “Germany is again on the rails”confronts enormous challenges.

He has taken the reins of the first European economy at a time of geopolitical change, where Europe seeks to free itself from the military supervision of an American ally that has become unpredictable and where Germany has been in economic excess since 2018.

From 9:00 am (07:00 GMT), the new Chamber of Deputies intends to elect the head of the Christian Democratic Union at the head of the government (CDU). This 69 -year -old training lawyer is an old road from German politics but who has never held an executive post.

Under the dome of the Reichstag, filling up with the voices of his camp and the social democrats (SPD), with whom he definitively sealed a coalition contract on Monday, will be enough to rally the absolute majority of the 630 elected officials.

He will be in the confirmed stride 10th Chancellor of modern Germany by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will receive him at the Bellevue presidential palace.

An appointment to the air of revenge for Friedrich Merz, dismissed from power in the early 2000s by his conservative rival Angela Merkel, which had led him to withdraw from politics.

Ere d’“Uncertainty”

He will take over from the social democratic Olaf Scholz, severely beaten in February after the collapse of his coalition against the backdrop of differences that have become insurmountable on budgetary priorities.

Monday, Friedrich Merz promised him “To move forward” Germany in these times “Great uncertainty”.

At the top of his priorities: “Restoring your pride” In the country, faced with a deep crisis of its industrial model, which Donald Trump’s trade war could worsen. He promised a new « leadership » In Europe, which goes through a tightening of links with Paris but also Warsaw.

To embody it, he will make – like his predecessors – his first visit abroad in the French capital, where he will be received on Wednesday by Emmanuel Macron. And then goes to Poland.

A supporter of unfailing support to Ukraine, the new Chancellor said he was open, under conditions, on the delivery of long -range Missiles Taurus to kyiv, despite the threats of Russia.

Friedrich Merz also marked the spirits by announcing in March an unprecedented expense program of several hundred billion euros to rearm and modernize a Germany in recession for two years. For this, it softens very strict national budgetary rules.

Among the priority projects, the upgrade of the national army, both to defend the country and its contribution to NATO, but also infrastructure as essential as roads and schools, in poor condition after years of underinvestment.

AFD shadow

On the interior level, Friedrich Merz will quickly have to keep his promises. Because some surveys place the extreme right of the alternative for Germany (AFD) in front of its CDU party.

He hears to reverse the trend being hard on immigration.

On Monday, he spoke of a “Historical duty to lead this coalition towards success”while the extreme right bets on a failure to win the next legislative elections of 2029.

In the midst of a geopolitical crisis, the curator will “Run a marathon on a tightrope,” comments the political scientist and author Michael Bröning, warning against the “Smart flicker” on which could “Throw away the extreme right. »»

Its success will also depend on the alignment of views with the social democratic allies on migration or economic policy.

With the finance portfolios, returned to Lars Klingbeil, and the defense where the outgoing Boris Pistorius remains, the Social Democratic Party has the means to influence the policy of the next government.