Merz elected chancellor in second round of voting

The news website In writes:

“It doesn't matter what the motives of the members of the Bundestag who wanted to send a message and 'break' with the party line during the vote were. What matters is the fact that they felt in a position to do this despite being aware of the turmoil it would cause. Because of course they would never have dared to play such a trick on Kohl, Schröder or Merkel. And that is why this episode underscores the fact that the political crisis in Europe has now taken on the characteristics of a leadership crisis. A lack of genuine leading figures.”

NRC hopes that Merz will not be intimidated:

“In March, Merz still looked like the man who could restore Germany's self-confidence and direction and make the country a pillar of the EU once again. On Tuesday his image suddenly took a hit. It is to be hoped, both for Germany and for Europe, that Merz will not immediately abandon his ambitions now that the political tide has turned against him. The Netherlands can afford a weak leader, however unfortunate that may be, but Germany cannot.”

Helsingin Sanomat writes:

“This historic voting fiasco was a forewarning to Europe that internal disputes have the potential to paralyse Germany. The country was supposed to enter a new era on Tuesday, in which Europe's economic powerhouse would take control of the continent's destiny and face up to the challenges posed by Putin and Trump. A stabilising Germany was to emerge amid the turmoil. Instead, the slap in the face for Merz showed that a Germany with domestic political unrest could become Europe's next problem.”

The leaders of the coalition partners have demanded a lot of their parties, Der Spiegel explains:

“Apparently neither Merz nor Klingbeil thought things through to the end or took the sensitivities of their own camp into account. The mere fact that there are several cogent motives in both factions to explain this outcome is in itself spectacular. Merz asked a great deal of his people and everyone else - in particular in January when he lowered the firewall against the AfD. ... For his part, Lars Klingbeil has also shown little consideration, placing only trusted and loyal colleagues in almost all key positions - and running roughshod over everyone else, as one experienced member of parliament put it. ... So the wounds are still fresh.”

Berlingske diagnoses the new chancellor's weak points:

“In reality, the 18 daggers could have been planted for about 18 different reasons. And this is indicative of Merz's first few months at the helm of German politics. Because it shows how bad he is at forging alliances and communicating. ... Tuesday's shock defeat raises doubts about whether Merz had realised that his starting position was this bad. If not, at least the rest of the world now realises it. And that adds another problem to Merz's list: he has been humiliated with the whole world watching. And that is a bad starting position for the man who is to lead Europe's most important country.”

Merz is assertive and used to facing opposition, Svenska Dagbladet puts in:

“Tuesday's start is seen as a bad omen. But Merz is known for never giving up. It took him three attempts to be elected party leader, he disappeared from politics after a conflict with Angela Merkel, only to return ten years later, and he is now at the pinnacle of German politics. People expect Merz to try to turn the situation to his advantage now. He will need to make quick decisions at home, launch new initiatives in the EU and coordinate with key allies to spread optimism and create a positive mood.”

A weakened chancellor is visiting Paris today, L'Opinion is convinced:

“Germany's economic and strategic model is in crisis, and now political uncertainty is added to the mix. This is not good news for disoriented Germans - or for Europeans. The Elysée has high hopes that Friedrich Merz will 'restore Franco-German reflexes', but it is a weakened chancellor who is arriving in Paris today for his inaugural visit. Germany is the continent's leading power and remains the driving force in Europe. Make no mistake: its current setback is also a setback for our common European project.”

Mediapart sees little room for manoeuvre:

“Merz is the most unpopular chancellor in recent history, with the result that the AfD continues to rise in the polls and is closing in on the CDU/CSU. So the new German government is starting its term of office without a period of grace. Not only the geopolitical and economic developments are putting it under pressure, but also German society, which has little faith in its success, as well as the doubters within its own ranks. Stability will not be a given but will have to be created by the new chancellor. To survive in such a context, Friedrich Merz will have to rid himself of his role as the eternal loser of German political history.”