Merz Accelerates, Germany Towards Grosse Koalition

It is immediately obvious that the future German chancellor has a different pace. And it is not just a question of style. Friedrich Merz, who won the elections in Germany yesterday, wants to start the consultations as soon as possible, so as not to leave Berlin without a government for too long. And he shows no doubt about the colors, the leader of the conservatives in Germany is banking everything on the social democrats after the failure of the liberals (and the red-brown party BSW) to enter the Bundestag: "We have had a clear mandate and we will build a grand coalition. The talks will begin in the next few days", he said at the Konrad Adenauer Haus.

The deadline he has given himself is Easter, Merz repeated the day after the vote that gave him a clear advantage over the others with 28.6%. "Even if the situation is difficult, I am confident that we will find solutions. Afd has taken exactly double the votes of last time (20.8%, ed.) and this is the last warning signal to the parties of the center," he warned. At stake in the next four years, in short, is the message, is the stability of German democracy.

The Kanzler in pectore is not wasting time on foreign policy either. He had a long phone call with Emmanuel Macron, before his bilateral meeting in Washington. And in the evening there was a phone call of good wishes from the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: the collaboration will be close, especially on migrants, for Palazzo Chigi. The words addressed to Donald Trump are very clear: Europe will not be intimidated, and will move to take care of itself. Deciding the fate of Kiev over the heads of Ukrainians and Europeans is "unacceptable". Returning to German politics, where the vote has decapitated the parties of the old government, at the center Willy Brandt, home of the Social Democrats, are covering their backs: "Whether we get to the point of building a government and whether the SPD will join it is not decided", stressed President Lars Klingbeil, appointed parliamentary group leader to start the generational change announced in the heat of the traumatic defeat (with just 16.4% of the votes collected). Next to him, Olaf Scholz said he was ready to do his duty "until the last day". Merz, however, is certain that he can collaborate better with them than with the Greens: "We share the objectives on the industrial front, and the maintenance of jobs in the country. And we do not see this in conflict with climate protection", is the example.

"No one wants to close the borders, no one", the clarification on migrants, but they need to be better protected. The relationship of trust needs to be rebuilt. After the rift that occurred during the election campaign, with the opening to the votes of Afd on the restriction of the right to asylum in the Bundestag, the former millionaire lawyer will certainly not be satisfied with demanding a coalition. However, Merz also dedicated a passage to the "almost existential crisis" of the Social Democrats: "I have no interest in destroying the SPD", a fundamental political force in German democracy. The constructive spirit, immersed in the unprecedented emergency of Washington's ostentatious disinterest in the security of Europe, is also evident in the leader's willingness to approve the reform of the debt brake even before taking office. And this is to avoid the legislature he will soon lead lacking the qualified majority of two thirds, necessary to modify constitutional laws.

The Greens, who with 11.6% already see themselves in opposition, have also shown themselves available. There is time until March 24, before parliament is dissolved. And Germany wants to break away from the balanced budget, a legacy of Wolfgang Schaeuble, who imposed it at the time of the euro crisis. The line is also casual in foreign policy, Merz does not seem intimidated by Trump. There are "clear signs" that America has lost interest in Europe, he explained, and "even if I am still convinced that we will be able to persuade the Americans that Europe is in their interest, we must deal with the worst-case scenario". The EU will have to speak "with one voice" on tariffs and Ukraine. That is not enough. The future Chancellor has already announced the next invitation to Netanyahu in Berlin, dismissing the reservations about the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court: "It is absurd that the Israeli president cannot visit Germany".