The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, defended this Tuesday, 25th, that the current global situation represents a rupture and the end of an era and urged Germany and Europe to assume political and military leadership.
“We have to assume a political and military role that we had abandoned. We got used to eight years of freedom, and what happened in the meantime was not the end of history, as we believed [o politólogo norte-americano] Francis Fukuyama, but one episode, and that episode has also come to an end”, Merz stressed at the congress of the German Employers’ Federation.
“Now, we are faced with a brutal reality: war in Europe, authoritarian systems and a President of the United States who wants to impose his ‘America First’ policy through tariffs,” he added.
“Our children and grandchildren will rebuke us if we don’t find the right answers to the challenges of our time”, emphasized the German leader.
Merz hinted that, given the dramatic nature of the current situation, some issues, although they must be resolved, take a backseat to existing challenges.
He specifically referred to the debate over pension reform within his own party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
“In a few years, no one will remember the debate about whether pensions should remain at 48% of the average salary. They will demand other things from us. We must strive to maintain the transatlantic alliance and be prepared for the possibility of facing military aggression”, he highlighted.
“Those who think that the current situation is all about Ukraine are missing the point,” he concluded.
Merz recalled that his administration began at a time when the world was changing, not only rapidly, but “with Donald Trump in the White House and an increasingly insidious populism coming from the left and, mainly, the right”.
The German Chancellor also highlighted that his Government has created the conditions for an increase in military spending, like other European countries, fulfilling a long-delayed commitment.
Without this commitment, he stressed, the NATO summit in The Hague would probably have been the last.
“The Americans would not be willing to continue supporting us”, he pointed out, referring to the agreement signed between the allies to invest 3.5% of GDP in Defense and 1.5% in Defense-related infrastructure.
Merz recalled that, with this investment, his Government fulfilled one of its three priorities, in addition to correcting the refugee policy — which resulted in a 60% drop in new asylum applications — and boosting the German economy after two years of recession.
“For us, the situation of the German economy was clear: for years, the structures were consolidated, leading us to the current situation. But Germany is not a speedboat, but a large cargo ship; you cannot change course in a few days, it takes time”, he analyzed.
The official added that, in the first months of his government, a reduction in corporate tax was implemented and energy costs for companies were reduced.
He also emphasized his willingness to reform social systems and reduce bureaucratic procedures in Germany, in addition to working to simplify them at European level.
Merz made his speech precisely as his approval ratings are falling in the polls.
According to a survey by the Insa institute, published on Tuesday, only 25% of Germans are satisfied with Merz’s work as head of government.