The May 2025 edition of the IRMO Brief, authored by Thomas Brey, deals with Germany under the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Elected as Chancellor with 325 votes in a 630-seats Bundestag, in the historic second round of voting, Merz has assumed office of the Federal Cabinet on 6 May 2025. The new government will face a number of problems, as Germany is pressed by many challenges such as the bad shape of infrastructure and failed migration policies. However, the biggest problem will be the restructuring of German industry, especially in automobile sector, where Germany has in recent years started lagging behind other global players like China. In foreign policy, it is yet to be seen how Chancellor Merz, a proven advocate of Transatlanticism and strong EU-integration, will face the opposition coming from parties like the AfD, which is openly anti-EU and pro-Russian oriented. The author also analyzes how the election of Donald Trump, with his erratic customs and foreign policies, will affect Germany’s partnership with the USA.
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