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February 19, 2025, Berlin: visitors walk in front of the German flag in the dome of the Bundestag.
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As a new chapter in German politics begins to follow federal elections over the weekend, there is a distinctive feeling of Déjà Vu in Berlin As an alliance in the center of the right, he prepares to take the reins once again in Berlin.
The conservative alliance composed of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Brother Party The Christian Social Union (CSU) won 28.6% of the votes on Sunday’s electoral ticket, followed by the extreme right -wing alternative for Germany (AFD) in second place with 20.8 % and the Social Democratic Party of the left center (SPD) in third place with 16.4 % of the votes, according to Preliminary results of the federal return officer.
The results, which will be confirmed on Monday, mean that Friedrich Merz of CDU-CSU will probably be the next German chancellor, assuming control of the SPD Olaf Scholz After his three -part coalition he collapsed at the end of last year.
The CDU-CSU is no stranger to being able to have led multiple “Grand Coalitions” in Germany during the last century. Now, it is expected to form a new ‘old’ coalition, with the SPD of the left center as the most probable partner of the Alliance, although the green have not been ruled out associated with the Union.
However, family challenges remain for the new leadership of Germany, with a signaling economy and the need to increase internal expenditure, much of which depends on German legislators to reform a restrictive rule that limits debt known as the “debt brake” – forming an immediate and pressing concern.
Then there is Germany’s difficult relationship with the world beyond, namely, with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, threatening with commercial tariffs that will further harm the German automotive industry.
Politicians, economists and business leaders German and American have no doubt about the obstacles facing a new government, but the perspective of A new administration has lit hopes that there are changes For the economy in difficulties.
Here is a selection of the immediate reaction to the result of the German elections:
Probable Next Chancelor Friedrich Merz:
Defeated the spd leader Olaf Scholz:
“It is a bitter electoral result for the Social Democratic Party. It is also an electoral defeat, (and) I think that should say it once clearly, from the beginning, given a result like this,” said Scholz at the headquarters of the party. Sunday night after the vote of the SPD on the ballot.
“This time, the result of the choice is bad and, therefore, I also have the responsibility of this electoral result,” he added.
Carsten Brzeski, Macro Global Chief, ING Research:
“It will be complicated” to form a new coalition, Brzeski said on Monday to Annette Weisbach of CNBC in Berlin.
“We only have one option and that is another great coalition. The problem will be that the SPD is extremely injured, the worst result in history, so they will be in a kind of existential crisis.”
“We will obtain some cyclic support, we will obtain some tax cuts, we will probably also obtain some investment programs. But the great elephant in the room remains we will obtain changes in the debt brake. And I think that in the current constellation of the next Parliament, this It will not be possible, “he warned.
President of Energy of Siemens Joe Kaeser:
Siemens energy President Joe Kaeser told CNBC that the new German government will face “a fairly uphill battle” and needs a long -term agenda to restructure Germany in the next five years.
“It is a restructuring case, we must be honest about this,” CNBC Tatelbaum told Julianna Tatelbaum on Monday.
Kaeser said that a “2030 Agenda” should have five key areas, focus on the economy, infrastructure and energy, education and innovation, the restructuring of the pension system and, finally, “recover control of the government and government reforms “.
“People in Germany ask themselves, is our country safe? The government, our state, our country, still has control.”
Arnd Franz, CEO of Auto Parts Maker Mahle:
“From our perspective, it is really the time to act, and after yesterday’s elections, we want the new German government to form together quickly and then enter a decisive and immediate action and also a long vision, clear and long term and long term and A road map to really bring Europe’s economy back, “CNBC told Carolin Roth on Monday.
“I think that the manufacturing sector of Germany requires urgent action in terms of taxes, in terms of energy costs, and also in terms of flexibility of the labor market. There are three great and great things that are important to all in the manufacturing sector. For the automotive industry, of course, regulation is a main problem. “
President of the United States Donald Trump:
“It seems that the conservative party in Germany has won the great and long -awaited election. Like the United States, the people of Germany tired of the common senseless agenda, especially in energy and immigration, which has prevailed for so many years, “President Trump posted on his Social Network Platform Truth Social on Sunday night.
“This is a great day for Germany”, Added.
John Emerson, former American ambassador to Germany:
“I think it is very good news for Germany. Actually, I am quite close to Friedrich Merz,” said Emerson, former United States ambassador to Germany, CNBC on Monday, reacting to Friedrich Merz’s comments on Sunday Night that was “absolute priority” to “strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the United States step by step.”
“I think he is serious about where he talked (Sunday night), in effect, declaring the independence of the United States and, I suppose that (the US vice president) JD Vance and Donald Trump cannot complain,” Emerson told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick.
“Merz is a type of free trade … So when I hear it talk about independence, I hear that as much as we need to reach a point where we can be alone, that Europe, we can defend and do more in terms of spending and Construction of military capacities. I heard more as a national security problem than an economic problem.
Alicia Garcia Herrero, Economist at Think-Tank Bruegel:
“What happens with the United States, in terms of rates or in terms of trade, is extremely important” for Germany, according to Herrero, a high -ranking member in Bruegel’s economic group. “I think Europe is waking up, and Merz is the best example of this,” Monday told CNBC.
“They (European leaders) are realizing that they need to approach more. The proposal, which, however, would mean that Germany would need to leave debt break.”
