Former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (The Greens) has criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the current coalition, arguing that they lack political leadership. Speaking to the “Tagesspiegel”, Fischer asserted that any government and its chancellor must provide direction and guidance, noting that centrist parties often sidestep crucial debates instead of addressing them, lacking the persuasive strength and leadership that figures like Helmut Kohl (CDU) demonstrated.
Fischer paid specific tribute to Kohl, calling him a deeply committed European and a politician who, “with courage and leadership, enforced his European convictions against the majority”. He questioned the situation, asking, “Where would we be today without the Euro?”
The former minister also cited the political leadership of past chancellors such as Helmut Schmidt (SPD), Konrad Adenauer (CDU), and Willy Brandt (SPD). However, in the present day, the former vice-chancellor wonders, “Why exactly are we not discussing who we are as Germany, or what we ought to be in the heart of Europe?”
According to Fischer, German society is currently facing a choice between two radically different national roles. “The AfD model represents a return to nationalism, which is a massive danger” he stated. In contrast, the other option is “Adenauer’s European concept, which has brought us peace and prosperity for decades”.
Fischer urged that Europe must become a major “power”. Otherwise, he warned that coming generations face severe difficulties. While acknowledging that Europeans do not desire unification through coercion-as that goes against their self-conception-he stressed the need for organic integration, a process that takes time. He marked the Euro as an important milestone, stating that the next logical step must be a defense union. While admitting this would require time, he remains uncertain whether time will be enough.
Fischer emphasized that Europe must be capable of defending itself without the United States, highlighting the necessity of a politically sound command structure to define who makes which decisions. He expressed surprise that these questions are seemingly not being debated publicly.
