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Europe needs Friedrich Merz to succeed

Digest opened free editor

Friedrich Mirz’s victory and Christian Democrats (CDU) in the parliamentary elections on Sunday gives Germany a new opportunity to reform the foundations of its success after the war. Once a rock of stability in central Europe, it now looks very weak on multiple fronts. He can no longer rely on open markets abroad to maintain its export economy; It is no longer possible to rely on an American security umbrella to keep it and its European partners safely from the Russian aggression; More and more Germans lose confidence in the ability of the prevailing parties to offer. As support for politics The center is shrinking the centerIt grows for radical movements, and above all the extreme right -wing alternative to Germany (AFD), whose commitment to liberal democracy is doubtful.

After years of government defects under the Social Democrats (SPD), liberal free democrats and vegetables, the country has Slave to the right. AFD won the second historic second place by 21 percent of the votes, twice the degree of 2021. It raises anxiety, that its attractiveness is stronger among young people than the elderly. As the largest opposition party, it stands to reap the benefits if a MirzThe government stumbles.

The CDU leader excluded the right to work with AFD. Most of the Germans, who are completely aware of their history, are still against the participation of power with a party with extremist elements, discriminatory policies, and cursing Russia Vladimir Putin. Merz has no choice but to form a coalition with SPD. The two parties are far from taxes, luxury and immigration. But concessions on all this migration are possible, and even irregular migration, as MERZ has general support for more restrictions. Speed ​​is vital. The two parties will achieve well to find an agreement on Wide strategic goals Instead of spending months on a detailed plan.

MirzThe first moves are encouraging. On Sunday, his “absolute priority” will be “strengthening Europe as soon as possible so that we already achieve step by step Independence from the United StatesIt may disturb the choice of the words for words that some European partners are still clinging to a torn American safety blanket. German The leader and the most reliable coming from so far convinced the Atlantic Ocean like Mirz. Independence from the United States is not reliable or even hostile, no matter how it could not be conceived just a few months ago, it is a task that can unite a red black alliance, assuming that Berlin can find the required resources.

While the election result gives Merz the possibility of forming a more stable alliance than the two parties, it removes the option of reforming the constitutional “brake” that greatly reduced the necessary general investment. The far left left will have the far left, a banned minority in Bundestag next to thwart the changes to the constitution. To be excluded, Mirz put on Monday an idea Reinforce the current parliament When the main parties have the required majority two -thirds to reduce debt restrictions, although they are over the issue during the campaign. It is a kind of bold approach that Germany will need if it wants to escape from an upset.

Berlin will have to open tens of billions of euros annually to increase defensive spending in sustainable, rearm, update its infrastructure, and reduce energy costs and invest in innovation. Unless Germany is able to raise its productivity and balance its growth model towards local consumption, economic prospects and living levels in Europe will continue to fade. Without a German weight, Europe does not have a little chance to replace US military assets quickly to avoid serious exposure to Russia to recovery. The continent really needs Mirz to succeed.

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2025-02-24 18:14:00

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