The first that was employed by the German financial press after the (with the second) election of the leader of the Central Party (CDU) Friedrich Mertz In Chancellor on Tuesday (6.5.25) by the Bundestag was whether and how he can deal with the Donald Trump.
And he could not deal with anything else first – first, as the main reason why Mertz was in the German Chancellor is… Trump himself.
It is recalled that it was precisely seven months before the election of Mertz on November 6, 2024, when on the day of Trump’s announcement in the US, when the Trikomatic Coalition (SPD, Greens, Liberals) was dissolved under Social Democrat Saltz.
The dismantling of the Saltz government and the call for early elections for February 23, 2025, were essential with the fact that the Trump election would mean US military exit from Europe.
US military exit from Europe would mean Europe’s security deficit against Russia (which has the upper hand in Ukraine) and thus the need to increase Germany’s defense spending.
This was considered by the SPD inconceivable without the relaxation of the constitutional debt brake, something the liberals were radically opposed.
So Saltz fired from the finance minister, the leader of the German Liberals, Christian Lindner, and the country was led to the polls, which gave a Pyrrhic victory to the center -right mer …
Because the majority formed in the new Bundestag did not reach the required 2/3, CDU – SPD agreed to pass the cancellation, in fact, (not just “relaxation”) of the constitutional Bundestag -based debt -based debt.
The CDU – SPD deal has finally passed (with the second and that!) From the Bundestag and the Bundesrat with the votes of the Greens.
The far -right AfD party, which was pre -election in Germany, openly and publicly by close associate Trump, Elon Musk, not only opposed the constitutional reform of the debt brake -aimed at increasing German defense spending -but rescued the stake in Reformation by the old Bundestag, which he described precisely as a “fiscal coup”.
However, the Karlsruhe judges rejected the AFD’s appeal against the constitutional reform of the debt (in favor of increasing defense spending), paving the way for the largest equipment program in Germany after the end of World War II.
But it is, but it is, The turn of the… German Constitution, to “appeal” against the AfD. According to leaks in the German financial press, last week, the Federal Protection Service of the Constitution upgraded the AfD from a suspected case to a “confirmed far -right extremist organization”!
These leaks brought back to the public dialogue the scenario of the AfD ban. However, this is estimated as a casus belli for supporters of this party on the other side of the Atlantic.
Federal Protection Service for the AFD Constitution: “Confirmed far -right extremist organization”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (and not the “well -known” Musk!) Had described the categorization of the AfD as a confirmed far -right extremist party as “covert tyranny”.
According to Rubio, the immigration policy of the “dominant parties” – of the same parties whose Merz is now leading in a government coalition – is “truly extremist”.
In fact, Clockwise conservative US media are wondering why Mertz did not coalition with… AfD and why Germany does not take tougher measures against immigration.
Let us not forget, after all, that Trump’s girlfriend is the Italian Prime Minister, Meloni, leader of the far -right party of the “brothers of Italy” and the government with the far -right “Lega” and the populist center -right party of Makariti Berlouki …
Let us also not forget that Mertz himself, pre -election, had given the relevant … courage for such questions … when he voted for the Bundestag with the AfD the ban on refugees asylum, although the relevant provision did not pass.
According to Handelsblatt, The issue of the CDU – AfD relationship is unlikely to disappear throughout Mertz’s Chancellor – and as long as Trump is in the White House.
German diplomats, he says the same report, even believe that they are The US government is likely to use the category of repression of AfD as a means of pressure on negotiations for other areas – whether it is trade or defense.
The controversy could also have an impact on the German – American cooperation of intelligence.
Tom Koton, head of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, called on the German government to view the AFD as a “legal opposition party”. As long as this is not guaranteed, the exchange of information to monitor AfD should stop.
What does this mean in practice? That Mertz has to cooperate more with the… opposition far -right AfD and less with the SPD with which he has officially formed a co -operation government. In addition, the AfD takes the 1st place in nationwide polls, with 26-27%, just above the CDU and well above the SPD (15%).
What is the informal “government” CDU – AfD? In the fact that the CDU may not take a step of approach with Trump if the AfD does not leave “quiet”.
Friend – American trend inside CDU – CSU
At the same time, and within the “Union” CDU – CSU, there are top politicians who belong to its most conservative wings.
Jens Spahn, the new head of the CDU – CSU parliamentary group, traveled to the Republican Party Congress in Milwaukee last July.
CSU politicians, Andreas Scheuer and Dorothee Bär – Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space – met with Ron de Sandis, the Governor of Florida and former nominee for the 20th presidency.
There are also efforts to come to the American capital in the summer by CSU leader and Bavarian president Marcus Zender. One of the goals is a meeting with Vice President Vance, according to people who know the plans. Good relations with the possible successor of Trump at the White House are essential for transatlantic relationships, they say.
On the other hand, Mertz (who is expected to have the first meeting with Trump at the latest next June at the G7 Summit in Canada) Personally, he had a “very intense fear of contact” with the Make America Great Again movement for a long time, according to some sources, which obviously did not … change with Merz’s phone call with Trump after his election to the Chancellor.
Mertz’s environment “was not really interested in close contacts, to be honest,” says one of the experts. “Now they have realized that they have to change that.”
The same sources point out that Merts was head of the Atlanik-Brücke six years ago. Since then, it has not appeared in Washington, at least not officially. Of course, the conditions were very different at that time, with the Democrats in power and the current Chancellor being a member of … Black Rock!
The not -so -friendly – European attitude of Mertz
As for yesterday’s (9.5.25) statements by the German Chancellor from Brussels, where he had meetings with Ursula von der Laien (President of the Commission), Antonio Costa (President of the European Council) and Mark Route (NATO Secretary) European line on the front of trade (and against individual agreements between the US and EU member states) and on the other hand against the common European lending (through Euro -bond issuance).
In other words, while calling for a common stance on commercial issues (although not all EU members are affected as badly as Germany from duties), it is dismissing joint action on public debt issues (with the excuse that Germany does not have the same debt as other than other EU countries).
It means that Mertz wants the other Europeans with them to face the US duty war, which is primarily affecting the Germans and their automotive industry, but refuses to put Germany back on their cheaper lending (through the Euro -bonds) in relation to all of the European bonds. euro…
At the same time, Mertz, along with the Social Democrats, have already been “crafting” (through constitutional reform) over 500 billion. Euro for their own (German) defense and an additional 600 billion. euro for their own (German) infrastructure, violating “implicitly” and unilaterally the European Stability Pact that they themselves imposed …
The query, given the giant challenges they have to face in the domestic and external countrythough and to what extent they will prevent themselves – the Christian Democrats and (its main inspirers) Social Democrats – to implement the package they voted for, with analysts seeing the end of 2026 – early 2027 as a starting point for its 2027th period, that is to say, just before its 20th century AfD, which openly supports Germany’s exit from the EU…