✦ Hinweis: Dieser Artikel wurde in der deutschen Landessprache verfasst, da das Thema unmittelbar mit der deutschen Politik und Öffentlichkeit verbunden ist. Für internationale Leser befindet sich oben rechts auf der Startseite eine Google Translate-Option zur vollständigen Übersetzung. ✦
✦ Note: This article is written in German because it directly relates to German politics and society. For international readers, a Google Translate option is available at the top right of the homepage for full-page translation. The same article is also available in English on the main page. ✦
✩ Table of Contents ✩
➤ This external link supports independent journalism
1. The Rise of Merz: How a Banker Became Chancellor
Friedrich Merz's journey to the Chancellery is anything but ordinary. Far from the populist street rallies or the carefully curated political grooming of party youth wings, Merz emerged from the high towers of finance and law — a realm that made him powerful long before he ever held public office. His path to becoming the 10th Chancellor of Germany in May 2025 was carved not through charm or compromise, but through discipline, strategy, and ruthless consistency.
Born in 1955 in Brilon, North Rhine-Westphalia, Merz was shaped by post-war German conservatism. He studied law and economics, entering politics in the late 1980s, but never fully embedded himself into the system like Merkel or Scholz. Instead, he oscillated between power and withdrawal. His first major political role came in the European Parliament in 1989, where he began shaping his worldview on the future of the EU, Atlantic partnerships, and national sovereignty.
But the real turning point came in the early 2000s when Merz found himself sidelined within his own party by the rising centrist wave of Angela Merkel’s leadership. Rather than fight it, he retreated — but not in defeat. Instead, he stepped into the private sector, where he would build financial influence that far outstripped most politicians.
For nearly a decade, Merz operated at the upper levels of European finance. He became Chairman of BlackRock Germany, one of the world’s most powerful asset managers, where he oversaw billions in investment strategy. This gave him first-hand access to global economic patterns, private banking networks, and the elite corporate class that funds much of Europe’s infrastructure and policy lobbying.
This is where his transformation began. While others played by political rules, Merz became a kingmaker behind closed doors. He built trust among corporate titans, transatlantic think tanks, and defense lobbies — positioning himself as a “technocratic patriot”: someone who could modernize Germany’s bureaucracy while fiercely protecting its national identity.
By 2020, as Germany was reeling from pandemic shocks, inflation, and energy dependency, Merz returned to politics — not as a follower, but as a force. He took control of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), reviving it from Merkel’s centrist legacy and pulling it sharply back to the right.
His speeches were no longer filled with vague promises — they carried precision. He warned of economic decay, cultural confusion, and weak borders. His tone was direct, even confrontational, especially on issues like migration, defense, and relations with Russia and China. It wasn’t populism — it was boardroom realism, spoken in cold logic, backed by numbers.
By the time the 2025 elections arrived, Friedrich Merz wasn’t just another candidate — he was a well-funded, ideologically sharpened, and internationally connected figure. His victory was not a fluke. It was the product of years of calculation.
And when he took the oath as Chancellor, it wasn’t Germany that changed Merz.
It was Merz who had been preparing to change Germany.
2. Power Circles & Private Deals: Inside Merz’s Network
To understand Friedrich Merz’s real power, you need to step far beyond parliament halls and campaign stages — into the closed circles of boardrooms, investment lobbies, and transatlantic clubs. His rise wasn’t just political; it was constructed through relationships with institutions that move billions, shape policy drafts before governments even see them, and influence NATO, EU, and financial law behind the scenes.
Long before becoming Chancellor, Merz had already established deep ties in elite economic and legal structures. His years with BlackRock Germany, where he served as Chairman, are more than just a line on a résumé. BlackRock isn’t just a firm — it’s a trillion-dollar force in global economics, with investments in virtually every major European and U.S. industry. Through this position, Merz didn’t just gain financial insights — he sat at the table with those who write the rules.
But the network goes deeper.
Merz has long been connected to Atlantik-Brücke — a German-American policy bridge institution that links politicians, corporate leaders, journalists, and military officials from both sides of the Atlantic. His membership wasn’t casual. It was strategic. Atlantik-Brücke alumni include NATO policymakers, arms manufacturers, and U.S. diplomatic envoys. These aren’t friends — they are co-architects of modern Western policy.
Inside Germany, Merz also fostered loyalty from major industrial and banking families. While Merkel focused on EU unity and compromise, Merz was quietly consolidating support from Germany’s “old money”: conservative dynasties that own real estate, auto, and defense assets — families that don’t seek media attention but hold immense sway over regional politics. These circles favor Merz because he speaks their language: less regulation, lower corporate tax, fewer labor restrictions, and military modernization without bureaucracy.
One of the more under-discussed aspects of Merz’s return to politics is how closely timed it was with international anxiety: the post-COVID financial realignment, energy crises after the Ukraine invasion, and global skepticism toward Chinese tech and Russian fuel. As these storms gathered, Merz appeared as the man ready with a plan — not just politically, but with access to networks that had the money and blueprints to respond.
Whispers in Brussels and Frankfurt suggest that Merz’s economic strategies were drafted months before CDU even announced its platform. Some reports claim pre-negotiations on defense procurement and energy diversification were already underway with European and U.S. firms, long before his campaign began. If true, it would mean his policies were not shaped by voters — they were shaped by pre-existing contracts and promises made in private suites.
That’s the kind of Chancellor Merz is: not reactive, but pre-positioned. Not swayed by political tides, but already parked in the harbor where the ships of influence arrive.
This does not make him corrupt. But it does make him insider elite — a man whose true cabinet sits outside the parliament, made up of advisors, financiers, lobbyists, and strategists who don’t speak on record, but whose hands are seen in every signature policy move.
As Europe stares down inflation, war, and digital warfare, it may be this networked power — not just ideology — that defines Germany’s direction.
3. Germany First? Merz’s Economic Vision Explained
Friedrich Merz did not enter office quietly. Just weeks into his term as Chancellor, he pushed a wave of economic reforms through the Bundestag that shocked even seasoned analysts. To understand his plan, one has to grasp the philosophy driving it: a sharp return to industrial realism, national competitiveness, and strategic independence — all under the banner many are now calling the "Germany First Doctrine."
At its core, Merz’s economic vision is not globalist — it is selectively nationalist. Unlike his predecessors who emphasized EU solidarity and long negotiation tables, Merz believes Germany’s economy cannot afford to wait. His message is clear: Germany must act for itself first, or risk becoming a dependent partner in a shifting global order.
The first signs of this shift came with his €4 billion industrial subsidy proposal — a direct lifeline to heavy industries like steel, chemicals, and automotive production. These sectors were losing ground to cheaper Asian markets and regulatory strangulation from Brussels. Merz’s solution? Slash environmental red tape, offer tax breaks, and protect core industries from collapse. For many economists, it was a bold — if controversial — move that signaled the end of Germany’s climate-first economic diplomacy.
His critics warned that it undermines EU unity and green commitments. But Merz’s allies claimed otherwise. To them, this wasn’t anti-EU — it was pro-survival.
Beyond subsidies, Merz launched fast-track energy diversification deals to reduce dependency on Russian gas and Chinese rare-earth supply chains. Where Merkel once promoted quiet diplomacy, Merz signed aggressive contracts with Norway, the U.S., and select Gulf states. These deals weren’t slow — they were sealed in weeks, some even before his official term began. Critics quietly allege that Merz had these frameworks ready while still campaigning, hinting at deep pre-election backdoor agreements with key energy players.
Then came the controversial pension reform: pushing back retirement age and introducing private-market investment into the national pension system. The move was seen by unions as dangerous, but Merz presented it as inevitable: a country with shrinking youth and rising costs couldn’t survive on legacy systems. “We must act now, not later,” he said in a televised speech that stirred both applause and protest.
What’s fascinating is how Merz frames every reform not as a choice — but as a rescue mission. He doesn't market them as bold ideas but as unavoidable responses to a failing system. That’s what makes his policies harder to attack: they are not just ideological, they’re framed as technocratic necessity.
At the heart of his message is this: Germany must become harder, faster, and more self-reliant, or it will be outpaced by nations who are not waiting for consensus. It's a pragmatic doctrine, one that ignores public sentiment when needed and trusts numbers over emotions.
Still, the question remains: is this the rebirth of Germany’s economic strength — or the beginning of a long, inward retreat?
What’s certain is this — under Merz, economics is not just policy. It’s survival strategy.
4. The Merz Doctrine: Europe, Russia, and China Under Pressure
Friedrich Merz is not just an economic reformer — he is a geopolitical strategist with a firm worldview. In Berlin, foreign policy experts have quietly begun referring to his international approach as “The Merz Doctrine” — a structured, assertive philosophy that seeks to redefine Germany’s place in Europe and its position between East and West.
At the heart of the Merz Doctrine is a clear priority: Germany must lead, not follow. This isn’t mere nationalism — it’s a calculated response to what Merz views as years of diplomatic indecision and dependency. Under his leadership, Germany is shedding its reputation as a reluctant power and stepping into the uncomfortable role of a strategic enforcer within the EU.
One of the first signs of this shift came in his dealings with France and Poland. Traditionally, Berlin has worked carefully to preserve EU consensus. But Merz has taken a tougher stance, especially on defense spending, energy sharing, and migration policies. When France pushed for more EU-wide green commitments, Merz countered with industrial protections. When Poland resisted German influence in EU courts, Merz warned of funding restrictions. These aren’t just disagreements — they’re power recalibrations.
And then there’s Russia.
Merz has consistently called for a “containment strategy” — one that goes beyond sanctions and embraces direct counter-pressure. In contrast to Merkel’s delicate balancing act, Merz is vocal about arming Ukraine, expanding NATO’s footprint, and cutting all economic ties with the Kremlin. His speeches are unapologetic: “There is no peace with Putin — only deterrence.” This has won him praise in Washington, but also stirred fear in Berlin, where many worry about escalation.
His stance on China is equally firm — though less emotional. Where Russia is treated as a threat, China is viewed as a competitor to be strategically outmaneuvered. Under Merz, German exports are being redirected to India, Vietnam, and Africa to reduce dependency. Huawei equipment is being pulled from 5G infrastructure. Chinese investments in German tech startups are under review, and new academic exchange policies limit sensitive research cooperation. All of this signals a shift toward technological sovereignty — a term Merz uses often.
Still, the most controversial part of the Merz Doctrine may be his stance on the EU itself. While Merz publicly supports EU unity, he has also begun reasserting German constitutional supremacy. Legal scholars close to his government have argued that EU law should not override core national interests, especially in matters of energy, defense, and digital infrastructure. Brussels sees this as dangerous — a crack in the foundation. But to Merz, it’s just “protecting German democracy from unelected bureaucracy.”
Critics claim this is soft Euroskepticism. Supporters call it realism in a post-American Europe, where every country must stand its ground.
What’s clear is this: under the Merz Doctrine, Germany is no longer neutral, and no longer silent. It is becoming a voice of pressure — east and west, near and far.
And that, some say, may be the most radical shift of all.
5. What Comes Next: Risks, Rumors & the Road Ahead
Friedrich Merz has only just begun his tenure, yet the corridors of Berlin, Brussels, and Washington are already buzzing with speculation. His rapid consolidation of authority, his hard-edged policies, and his refusal to follow established consensus have created both admiration and anxiety. Now, as Germany stands at a geopolitical crossroads, the question echoing across think tanks and boardrooms is clear: What comes next under Merz’s rule?
The first major risk is internal fragmentation. While Merz commands loyalty from industrialists, conservatives, and strategic allies abroad, his popularity among young voters, labor unions, and green progressives is sharply declining. His rollback of environmental regulations and restructuring of pensions have triggered nationwide protests, especially in university cities and urban centers. The danger? A slow-burning generational divide, where Germany’s youth begin to see their own Chancellor as a symbol of the past, not the future.
Behind closed doors, sources within the CDU admit that Merz governs with a tight inner circle, often bypassing traditional parliamentary procedures. This has led to a growing number of MPs privately expressing concern over centralization of power, calling his leadership style “corporate authoritarianism.” While not illegal, it has raised questions: Is Germany still being governed — or is it being managed?
Then come the international whispers.
Several EU diplomats have quietly noted Germany’s increasingly unilateral decisions under Merz — from defense contracts to digital policy — sparking fears of a “New German Rigidity” within the union. France has reportedly begun pushing back with its own defense initiatives, and Italy’s PM recently commented that “Germany’s voice under Merz no longer seeks harmony — it seeks direction.”
There are also unconfirmed rumors that Merz’s government is considering a reorganization of Germany’s intelligence-sharing protocols, reducing the flow of data to EU-wide security networks and enhancing ties with the U.S. NSA and Five Eyes partners. If true, this could cause a diplomatic shift — pulling Germany further away from Brussels and closer to Washington’s strategic orbit.
Economically, Merz’s bold reforms may yield short-term gains, but economists warn of long-term instability if inflation spikes again or if global supply chains are disrupted. His deep cuts to bureaucracy are popular with CEOs but could erode essential social services over time — especially if not managed with safeguards.
And yet, for all the risks, Merz’s government continues to operate with confidence, clarity, and a sense of historical mission. In every speech, he presents himself not as a populist or ideologue, but as a guardian of Germany’s core strength — its industry, its sovereignty, and its place as a leader in an increasingly unpredictable world.
As one senior EU official recently put it:
“Whether you support or fear him — you cannot ignore him. Merz has made Germany visible again.”
The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Germany is no longer drifting. It’s driving — fast, focused, and unapologetically Merz.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment