This Week in Politics
German Chancellorship Debate
With mere days until the federal Bundestag election, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Opposition Leader Friedrich Merz went head-to-head, portraying different visions for Germany. Chancellor Scholz of the centre-left SPD emphasised his experience and understanding of details. Mr Merz managed to keep Mr Scholz on the defensive, with the chancellor missing opportunities to press the opposition leader on issues such as migration.
"Yes ... We as the European Union can act within an hour," Mr Scholz responded when asked about a German response to potential American tariffs.
Moreover, Chancellor Scholz reiterated an attack on Mr Merz's motion passing with the help of the far-right AfD, suggesting further cooperation might occur. On the other hand, Mr Merz of the centre-right CDU criticised the incumbent for fuelling the rise of the AfD through "left-wing" policies, and ruled out an alliance with the far-right. The chief political correspondent for the German news network DW argued that Mr Scholz failed to effectively press the opposition leader on the matter.
"[W]e are in the third year of a recession. This has never happened before in Germany," Mr Merz said regarding the economy.
Chancellor Scholz defended his economic record, citing a raise in minimum wage and promising another increase to 15€ an hour if elected and stressed when asked about a German deindustrialization that "We have a huge number of people in gainful employment." Mr Merz responded to this point, stating that Mr Scholz's assessment had "nothing to do with the reality." The opposition leader questioned the German growth's sluggishness compared with other Western nations.
In a sign of unity, both rejected President Trump's proposed take-over of Gaza and said it is not possible for Ukraine to join NATO due to the American stance.
Mr Merz's CDU widely outperforms Chancellor Scholz's SPD in the polls, having roughly 30% compared with 16%. Moreover, the far-right AfD enjoys 21%, which would be its strongest result in the Bundestag ever. The liberal FPD and newcomer BSW both face losing representation in the parliament, as they are both dabbling around the 5% threshold. The Greens are facing losses, with support hovering around 13%. The Left has rallied in recent days after a prolonged period well beneath the 5% threshold. In the debate voters split regarding who won, hurting news for a chancellor aiming to revitalise a battered SPD.
Patriots for Europe Coalesce in Madrid
The new right-wing to far-right Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament meet in Madrid touting a "Make Europe Great Again" message. As the third largest parliamentary group, its members span the continent. Yet, only in Hungary does a Patriots for Europe (PfE) member rule. That is something the PfE aims to change and is creating a strategy for tackling.
“We are living in an historic age, and my message to all the old leaders from Macron to Scholz, to your own Pedro Sanchez: It's your time. It's over now. They are history,” Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV party in The Netherlands, said speaking to the summit.
Emboldened by President Trump's electoral success the PfE stated its "reconquest" of the continent will be under the "Make Europe Great Again" banner. The group underscores issues such as national sovereignty, traditional values, and the defence of free speech and security.
"We have to do what Trump has told us, fight, fight, fight. We have to reconquer a Europe that is ours and that belongs to us. A Christian Europe," André Ventura, leader of the far-right Chega party in Portugal, emphasised.
Across the Atlantic Argentina’s President Javier Milei tuned in for a video message, while Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado did the same. The Spanish Jorge Buxadé of VOX underpinned the trans-Atlantic nature of the PfE group and the importance of his party as a bridge between them.
“We are no longer just the future—we are the real, immediate future,” Jorge Buxadé declared.
