In 2025, Germany stands at a political and economic crossroads. The elevation of Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), to the chancellorship signals a potentially transformative period for the country. But with a fractured electorate, a volatile international context, and mounting domestic pressures, the question remains: can Merz truly lead a “game-changer” government?

The phrase “necessity is the mother of invention,” often attributed to Plato, finds a new home in contemporary German politics. Merz’s unexpected success in forming a coalition with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) ahead of his self-imposed Easter deadline demonstrates not only political agility but also an acute awareness of the urgency Germany faces. The swiftness of the coalition agreement stands in stark contrast to the months-long negotiations seen in 2017 under Angela Merkel, when it took 170 days to finalize a similar “grand coalition.”

This speed reflects more than Merz’s personal ambition. It is driven by a confluence of crises: the war in Ukraine, economic stagnation at home, the looming threat of a trade war with the United States, and the meteoric rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). These realities have created a pressure cooker environment, forcing traditional parties to act decisively or risk losing the political narrative.

Merz steps into office amid continued geopolitical instability, most notably in Ukraine. His position marks a shift from the more hesitant stance of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz faced criticism for dragging his feet on delivering advanced weaponry to Kyiv. Merz, in contrast, has voiced conditional support for supplying long-range Taurus missiles-potentially allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian-controlled territories.

His stance could realign Germany more closely with hawkish........

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