Friedrich Merz towards a coalition with SPD: AfD out
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Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU – and of CDU/CSU conservative bloc – is the new german Chancellor. On Monday, February 24th, he celebrated the electoral victory at the party's headquarters. The party reached 28.6% of the electoral votes and defeated the SPD, Olaf Scholz's party, which garnered 16.4% – the lowest result in the last 80 years. Merz has already confirmed his intention to form an alliance with the SPD, and there is a good chance that the new coalition will stabilize before Easter. In fact, the two formations could have a solid majority in the Bundestag.
Merz has ruled out the chance of a coalition with the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland, respecting the so-called “firewall” – in German, Brandmauer – an unwritten agreement between all political formations dating back to the post-war period, which excludes far-right parties from any coalition or alliance. Merz also outlined the most pressing issues for the new government: increasing European defense – a particularly sensitive topic given the complexity of the current geopolitical context – managing migration policies, and safeguarding the german economic-industrial fabric.
Merz's goal is to restore the CDU to its original conservative dimension and leave behind Merkel’s centrist vision. Regarding foreign policy, Merz emphasized the need to create a united European front but called for calm and reiterated the urgency of providing the German citizens with a stable government as soon as possible, in light of the geopolitical and economic challenges of the coming months.
Merz has ruled out the chance of a coalition with the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland, respecting the so-called “firewall” – in German, Brandmauer – an unwritten agreement between all political formations dating back to the post-war period, which excludes far-right parties from any coalition or alliance. Merz also outlined the most pressing issues for the new government: increasing European defense – a particularly sensitive topic given the complexity of the current geopolitical context – managing migration policies, and safeguarding the german economic-industrial fabric.
Merz's goal is to restore the CDU to its original conservative dimension and leave behind Merkel’s centrist vision. Regarding foreign policy, Merz emphasized the need to create a united European front but called for calm and reiterated the urgency of providing the German citizens with a stable government as soon as possible, in light of the geopolitical and economic challenges of the coming months.