Irish Examiner view: Germany's Friedrich Merz will hit the ground running

Despite being Europe’s biggest, richest, and most important power, the German economy has stagnated over the past two years and its influence has waned

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, must restore Germany’s position within the EU at a time when the country and the union as a whole face shattering global political norms. Picture: Martin Meissner/AP

As the world grapples to deal with a rogue administration in Washington, the EU needs a strong government in Berlin to enable it to cope with existential threats from west to east.

Long seen as Europe’s most essential member state, Germany has lately become one of its most ineffectual, bogged down as it has been by internecine political in-fighting and government flip-flops on vital policy issues.