BERLIN (Reuters) – Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, the front-runner to become Germany's next chancellor, said that Donald Trump's second presidency would bring clarity to the European Union, as he hosted conservative members of the European Union in Berlin.
“I think Trump is very predictable,” Merz said at a news conference with Manfred Weber, head of the conservative European People's Party, the largest lawmaking group in the European Parliament.
He added: “In this regard, I think we can prepare ourselves for the fact that there will be greater clarity in the coming weeks and months, and that there will of course be many challenges.”
Merz, head of Germany's conservative CDU-CSU bloc, is expected to succeed Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose divided coalition with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats collapsed in November over contradictory plans to revive the country's faltering economy.
Merz said that Europe needs to unite in order to be respected in the world, especially in the United States, and that Trump's inauguration on Monday “will accelerate our efforts to unite our strength and work together.”
He added that Trump's tough stance should be seen as an opportunity, also with regard to joint European military procurement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and conservative heads of state and government from countries including Sweden, Finland and Austria were among those who attended the two-day gathering in the German capital.
In a joint declaration, the EPP said its priorities for 2025 were for Europe to regain competitiveness, reduce illegal migration and strengthen security in the face of “disinformation campaigns by foreign autocrats, terrorist attacks, organized crime and hybrid warfare in Europe.” border.”
According to a YouGov poll published this week, Merz's conservative bloc will receive 30% of the votes in the German elections scheduled for February 23, making it the most likely to lead any future coalition. According to the poll, the Social Democratic Party led by Schulz is declining by 18% of the votes.
