Friedrich Merz: Chancellor by Inheritance or Oversight?

Chancellor reshuffle in Berlin: after the painful defeat of the Social Democrats, Germany has decided to try out the good old classic — entrusting the fate of the country to a man with a manager’s briefcase, but without a wig. Friedrich Merz, known for his inquisitive eyebrows and fondness for sharp suits, has taken the chancellor’s seat. Now, instead of disappointed sighs, the Bundestag will be filled with… well, perhaps stifling silence.

Merz is a man who doesn’t like unnecessary words, but is quite happy to operate with finances. He is considered almost an antique exhibit of German politics, but as practice shows, antiques are all the rage these days. The departure of Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrats was accompanied by plenty of tears and a handful of joyful applause among the CDU/CSU ranks. The economy, migration, energy — all of that is now officially the new chancellor’s headache. Or maybe just a reason for new philosophical evenings on TV.

What awaits Germany? For now, it seems reforms will resemble German beer — they foam for a long time, but not everyone enjoys them. One thing is clear: with Merz’s arrival, the country is returning to those times when neatness in politics was valued more than bold experiments. And we’ll be watching all this in the best traditions of German comedies — with mild bewilderment and a bag of popcorn.