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CDU leader Merz: Passive Scholz politically isolated in EU

German government has completely failed in European politics, says chancellor candidate

Dec 15, 2024 06:48 68

The candidate for the post of German chancellor from the opposition conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) Friedrich Merz said that the German government "has completely failed" in European politics, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz is politically isolated in the European Union.

“Unfortunately, it must be said this: most European leaders simply no longer want to meet with the German chancellor, who either sits silently for hours or lectures the world“, argued Merz, quoted by the DPA agency. As an example, he cited French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Poland this week, during which the leaders of the two countries discussed policy towards Ukraine. “And again there is no German Chancellor“, Merz noted.

According to the CDU leader, there is a “demonstrative disinterest“ in the German government in European politics. This is harmful to Germany and is becoming an increasingly serious obstacle to relations with its European neighbors, Merz said. He recalled the recent opening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. On the sidelines, Macron, the newly elected US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the situation in Ukraine.

“The German Chancellor was invited, but apparently did not want to go to Paris“, Merz believes.

In addition, the CDU leader stressed that there is a “real failure“ of Germany's participation in European legislative activities. “German vote“ is now a common expression for abstaining from voting in Brussels.

Merz claims that in the last three years there has not been a single initiative by the German government, for example in the field of refugee policy or economic policy, that could be discussed in Brussels.

The debate on the vote of confidence in Scholz's government in the Bundestag is scheduled for December 16. If the deputies refuse confidence in the chancellor, early parliamentary elections will be held on February 23, 2025.

Scholz is the Social Democrats' candidate for chancellor and Merz's main rival. The CDU/CSU's approval rating currently ranges between 30-31%, while the ruling SPD's is 15-17%.