Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her confidence in the government led by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, both of whom belong to the CDU party, and is currently calling for patience.
Speaking to “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” (FAS), Merkel noted that since the government took office almost a year ago, it has managed to pass budgets and reach fundamental decisions concerning infrastructure and defense expenditures. She also praised the joint efforts between the Union and SPD coalition, citing initiatives like the early retirement scheme as “interesting elements.” In her view, while she does not wish to list everything, it is simply incorrect to suggest that no progress was being made.
Despite this positive assessment of achievements, Merkel cautioned against raising overly high expectations. She pointed out that even during her time in office, the political discourse had become more frantic due to social media. Merkel stressed that setting unrealistic goals in such a volatile environment is a mistake-an error she admitted making herself.
When asked if she believes the government can implement the necessary reforms, Merkel replied affirmatively. According to her observations, discussions surrounding healthcare reform are progressing well. She acknowledges that the federal government consistently states it still has many tasks ahead of it, and stated she does not intend to intervene in current governmental policies. However, she posed a profound question: how could all problems possibly be resolved when facing modern challenges such as the US adopting a completely new foreign policy toward Europe, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and rapid technological shifts driven by artificial intelligence? She concluded that politics is fundamentally an ongoing process.
Furthermore, addressing Merz’s complaints about enduring online harassment from social media users, Merkel drew a parallel to the late Helmut Kohl. Kohl reportedly stated that nobody forced him into that work; being a chancellor involves “great experiences, but also things one must endure.”
