Merz calls for emancipation from the USA

“But then we can Don’t bury your head in the sand and try to survive in some niche,” said the Chancellor at the event with the Baden-Württemberg CDU top candidate Manuel Hagel. “This calculation doesn’t add up.” In order to be respected, Germany must learn to look after its interests.

“What good is criticism if he doesn’t respond to it?”

“We are experiencing that our most important ally in the world – and that is still the United States of America – is turning away from a rules-based order,” said Merz. He appeared increasingly hopeless about being able to exert any influence on US President Trump. “What good is criticism if the person it is aimed at doesn’t respond to it, but rather believes what he does is right“, Merz continued.

The Americans also looked to Germany. “But they won’t look at us if we make ourselves small, if we duck away; they will only respect us if we have allies in Europe who speak the same language as us.” To do this you have to come from one Position of strength can argue, said Merz and called for the economy to be geared more towards competitiveness.

In Germany itself we will have to learn again to work more and longer said Merz. The industrial base must be preserved, otherwise the problems ahead cannot be solved. We are fighting for the future of this country in many respects, both in terms of foreign policy and domestic policy. “We trust ourselves to solve the problems because the solution to these problems is also in our hands.”