It’s the liberal German dilemma: Merz is anathema, but he might stand up to Trump | John Kampfner

guardian.co.uk (nprofile…z4y7)
✍️ Donald Trump's actions have alerted Germany and Europe to the danger of autocracy, and Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz is warning of the dangers of a Trumpian new world order.
👉 Trump's actions have alerted Germany and Europe to the danger of autocracy
👉 Merz is warning of the dangers of a Trumpian new world order
👉 Germany needs to take a more muscular approach to defense and international relations
👉 Many Germans are feeling anxious and uncertain about the future
👉 A psychological transformation is needed to accept that the status quo ante will never return

#DonaldTrump #FriedrichMerz #JohnKampfner #JDVance #OlafScholz #Germany #Europe #Munich #Berlin #Poland #Ukraine #Russia #UK #politics

quoting nevent1q…7py8

guardian.co.uk (nprofile…z4y7)

Amid the gloom, the truth is dawning: the country faces hard political choices, and needs a more muscular approach to defence Donald Trump and his lieutenants have done Germans an enormous favour. Perilously late in the day, the US president and special envoy to the Kremlin has alerted Germany and the rest of Europe that there is one fault line, and one alone, between democracy and autocracy. All other political issues facing the country pale into insignificance.It seems that Friedrich Merz gets it, even if many in his country still don’t. Since winning Sunday’s election, the Christian Democrat (CDU) chancellor-elect has used every opportunity to warn of the dangers of the Trumpian new world order. He has not sought to provide reassurance, something that Germans tend to crave from their politicians. Continue reading...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2025/feb/27/liberal-germany-friedrich-merz-donald-trump-defence