“Most European heads of state and government have no desire to meet with the German Federal Chancellor,” CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz wrote in a podcast.

December 15, 2024

Friedrich Merz , candidate for German chancellor from the opposition CDU/CSU bloc, has sharply criticized the current head of the German government, Olaf Scholz , who is running for the post again as a candidate from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). “Unfortunately, we have to admit: most European heads of state and government no longer want to meet with the German Federal Chancellor , who either sits silently for hours or preaches about the structure of the world,” Merz wrote in an episode of his podcast MerzMail on Sunday, December 15. He called the European policy of the current German government “a complete failure.”

To back up his claim with an example, the Christian Democrat recalled French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Poland last week, where the two NATO allies discussed Ukraine policy. “Once again, he was absent – the German Federal Chancellor,” Merz wrote.

In addition, the current  German government displays “a demonstrative indifference to European policy,” Merz says. According to him, this attitude not only harms Germany itself, but is also becoming an increasingly heavy burden for European policy and Germany’s relations with its EU neighbors.

In this regard, the CDU candidate for chancellor recalled that before the grand opening of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Macron met with US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “The German chancellor was also invited, but apparently did not find the desire to go to Paris,” wrote Friedrich Merz.

Merz on Germany’s weak involvement in European politics

Merz also criticized the “virtual absence” of Germany’s participation in the European legislative process. In Brussels, according to him, the popular term “German Vote” has already appeared – due to the fact that Germany constantly abstains during voting. Moreover, some members of the government in Berlin, such as German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (candidate for Chancellor of Germany from the Alliance 90/”Greens” party – Ed. ) do not attend such meetings at all, Merz emphasized.

As a result, over the past three years, the German government has not come up with a single initiative in areas such as migration or economic policy that could be discussed in Brussels, the CDU chancellor candidate complained.

https://www.dw.com/ru/kandidat-v-kanclery-ot-hds-lidery-stran-es-ustali-ot-solca/a-71060549