Friedrich Merz will forever be known as the first German Chancellor in post-war history to be fall short in the first round of the Bundestag vote.

Although he went on to secure a narrow victory, his initial defeat is a haunting reminder of the shaky ground upon which Europe stands. From Germany and France to Bulgaria and Romania, the EU is collapsing under the weight of political dysfunction, economic uncertainty and industrial decline. Between 2023 and 2024, the EU’s manufacturing output dropped by another 2.6% costing hundreds of thousands of jobs – including 120,000 in Germany alone.

And the UK is not far behind.

Across the country, factory closures have devastated entire communities, particularly in vulnerable areas of Scotland and Wales, the former of which is currently reeling from the closing of Grangemouth oil refinery.

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New partnerships are needed but the Westminster has yet to face the facts. Donald Trump’s return has added another spanner to the works. His tariff flip-flopping, enmity with China, and repeated accusations of European “freeloading” serve as constant reminders that the familiar trans-Atlantic alliance is nearing a rock bottom.

And........

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