Germany’s Chancellor Has Bigger Problems Than Trump

Ms. Sauerbrey is a German journalist who writes about Germany’s politics, society and culture. She wrote from Berlin.

On Monday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany touches down in Washington for a two-day visit. There’s a lot to discuss with President Trump: the bruised trans-Atlantic relationship, the confusion around tariffs, the brutal war in Ukraine and the new military campaign in Iran. He might be grilled about his trip to China last week, too. For someone less than a year in the job, it’s a mighty undertaking.

But Mr. Merz has bigger problems than Mr. Trump. With low approval ratings, an ailing economy and the far right on the rise, his chancellorship is in choppy waters. To make matters worse, this is a big election year in........

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