On Wednesday Olaf Scholz (63, SPD) took over the office of Federal Chancellor from Angela Merkel (67, CDU).
At BILD Live, ex-Union parliamentary group leader and CDU party chairman Friedrich Merz (66, CDU) expressed his expectations and hopes for the new traffic light government – and teased the SPD.
“So far, all SPD Federal Chancellors have failed because of their own party,” he said, giving as an example former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (77, SPD), who “de facto disempowered” the SPD “during the second term of office” (2005) has been.
“Whether this will be the case again” remains to be seen. He also emphasized: Chancellor Scholz “now has a new government, he has every chance.” In addition, it must always be borne in mind that he will take up his office “at an extraordinarily difficult time” – in the middle of the Corona crisis. There were also other crises on the “horizon”, including in foreign policy.
From the point of view of the opposition, he could only say: “We wish him success for our country.” The Merz balance sheet on the change in power: “Democracy in Germany works”.
Nonetheless, day-to-day political business begins now. Merz hopes: “We want to see a good and successful federal government.” If that is not the case, the CDU will “bring it up in parliament”. This role in the opposition will be “perceived and fulfilled”.
“We also have Angela Merkel to thank for that”
Merz found words of praise and conciliation for ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel – that was not always the case, within the party they were never considered friends.
Merz at BILD Live: “Without a doubt, she is a great Federal Chancellor. (…) We have the lowest unemployment rate since reunification. For the first time in her term of office, we saw balanced federal budgets. We are recognized in the world. Germany’s voice counts – we also have Angela Merkel to thank for that. “
For the new Federal Chancellor this would mean: “Olaf Scholz is stepping into exceptionally big shoes here.”
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