All articles tagged with #merz
France, the UK and Germany will co-chair a Coalition of the Willing meeting with Zelenskyy to step up Ukraine support after a deadly Russian drone attack; Paris pledged interceptor missiles, London will share data on SCALP missile components for local assembly, as leaders seek to bolster Kyiv and pressure Moscow.
Germany’s CDU chief Friedrich Merz faces a growing leadership crisis as a surrogacy row involving Jens Spahn and a bungled cabinet shake-up fuel internal dissent ahead of September state elections, threatening his grip on power.
Germany plans to require a doctor's certificate on the first day of illness and end phone-based sick notes, returning to pre-pandemic rules as Chancellor Merz says sick days are too high. The move is part of broader economic reforms but drew opposition from medical groups and some SPD members who warn it could overwhelm doctors' waiting rooms and complicate absences; Labour Minister Bas says she will study the impact and seek workable solutions.
Germany will require a doctor’s certificate on the first day of illness for any sick leave, ending sick leave by phone, in a bid to curb absenteeism and boost the economy. The reforms, backed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 and give employers more flexibility to hire short-term workers; critics warn the policy could strain the health system and TV the country’s social protections.
A live-update piece argues that Germany’s governance crisis is mirrored by the national team’s World Cup exit, a weak economy with rising unemployment, infrastructure delays, and a faltering reform agenda under Chancellor Merz, all amid growing public cynicism and rising AfD support; the feed also includes geopolitical and domestic political notes, such as U.S. security handling around Iran and related commentary.
Germany’s 2026 World Cup defeat to Paraguay is framed as a symptom of broader governance problems: a faltering economy with auto-sector layoffs, weak growth, and stalled reforms, alongside low public approval for Chancellor Merz and rising support for the AfD. While some observers caution against fatalism, they note that only limited reforms—like a pension overhaul—offer a path forward.
Germany’s government blasted Cyprus’s proposal to cut the EU’s long-term budget by 2% as unaffordable and unbalanced, insisting on a reform-focused deal that prioritizes defense and competitiveness; Berlin aims to wrap up negotiations this year, warns that without an agreement funds for 2028 could be at risk, and signals openness to new revenue sources while rejecting a corporate levy.
Germany and France have abandoned the multi-nation Future Combat Air System fighter jet program after deep industrial disagreements between Airbus and Dassault, delivering a major setback to Macron’s push for closer European defense integration. The fighter component, to replace Germany’s Eurofighter and France’s Rafale by around 2040 and linked drones and a combat cloud, is effectively dead, though partners may still pursue drones and cloud work or other cooperative projects like GCAP; Merz is expected to announce the decision at the ILA Berlin air show, reflecting the broader challenges of multinational defense programs.
Germany failed to secure a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, with Portugal and Austria taking the two Western European seats. Berlin blamed its stance on Israel and Russian opposition for the defeat, while Merz faces domestic criticism as a diplomatic setback undermines his bid to restore Germany’s leadership role. Portugal and Austria leveraged neutrality and multilateral diplomacy, underscoring shifting dynamics in global diplomacy.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls for an 'associate membership' track for Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkan candidates to sustain momentum toward full EU membership, offering participation in EU meetings, a seat in the College of Commissioners, non-voting Parliament representation and some Court of Justice involvement; a task force would study the legal and political feasibility. The European Commission welcomed the discussion but emphasized the goal remains completing accession, while blocages (notably Hungary and Bulgaria) and debate over the approach persist.
German conservative leader Friedrich Merz said he wouldn’t advise his children to go to the United States to study or work amid a polarised social climate, despite his admiration for America; the comments drew sharp backlash from Trump allies and underscored ongoing US–Germany tensions over Iran, Ukraine and NATO, though Merz reaffirmed commitment to the transatlantic relationship and said he spoke with Trump.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would not advise his children to move to the United States for education or work because of a worsening social climate there, signaling a cooling of Berlin-Washington ties amid public clashes with Donald Trump. The piece also notes Merz’s past leadership of Atlantik-Brücke, a recent cordial call with Trump, Germany’s limited role in NATO regarding the Iran war, and broader U.S. warnings about Europe’s political climate.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s nationwide tour to shore up his flagging popularity is backfiring, with voters perceiving him as out of touch and doubting his ability to deliver economic reforms. Polls show 86% of Germans unhappy with the coalition, Merz’s own numbers are weak (about 24% think he can turn the economy around, 14% say he communicates effectively), and the far-right AfD is gaining ground in eastern Germany ahead of elections, complicating the government’s path forward. His emphasis on gradual reforms and business-focused outreach has not yet translated into broad public support.
One year into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz is praised for a tougher foreign posture but hamstrung by a fragile CDU-SPD coalition, waning popularity, and a rising AfD, forcing a reckoning over promises versus reality and leaving his leadership trajectory uncertain.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pivoted back to a conciliatory approach toward Donald Trump, praising the U.S. president on key issues like tariffs and Iran policy while urging swift talks to de‑escalate tensions and salvage transatlantic ties, even as European ministers push for Europe to assume more NATO responsibilities and some SPD lawmakers advocate countermeasures against Trump’s threats.