John Kampfner
Germany is good at doing things slowly.
Six months ago, the country’s last government collapsed, as small-time politicians with big egos could no longer abide each other. Since then, we saw Germany hold a general election, U.S. President Donald Trump come to power and the world plunged into mayhem. In Berlin, however, things have carried on pretty much as normal.
The outgoing cabinet continued to run the place in its usual fashion, competently but with little sense of purpose. The economy stuttered on. And political parties did what political parties do — connive against each other.
But finally, a new administration is set to launch today. So, will things now change?
According to Friedrich Merz, the Federal Republic’s 10th chancellor, his first 100 days in office will be like no other. Germany, he said, will be turbocharged into activity. And from within the ranks of his Christian Democratic Union party (CDU), which was not necessarily brimming with talent, he has been able to produce some surprising yet sensible ministerial choices.
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