Germany's Political Wobbles: Can Merz Steer the Ship?

Germany is in a bit of a pickle. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is having a tough time getting his big plans for pensions and military service through the government. This isn't just a small hiccup; it's making people worry that Germany might start having the same political chaos that France has been dealing with. Merz and his team promised things would be more stable when they teamed up with the Social Democrats. They even had a big spending plan to help them work together. But, things haven't been smooth sailing. The coalition is super fragile, and Merz had to face a rare and embarrassing first-round loss in his election as chancellor. The problems run deep. Merz's own team is unhappy with all the compromises they've had to make. They wanted big changes, but they're not getting them. This makes it risky when they have to vote secretly, like when they elected the chancellor. Merz isn't exactly stepping in to fix things. He's been more focused on foreign affairs, which has earned him the nickname "Foreign Chancellor. " Meanwhile, the economy is shrinking for the third year in a row, and the U. S. isn't the most reliable friend right now. Germany needs to step up its military game, but even that's causing fights within the government. The far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), is gaining a lot of support. This is happening as both the conservatives and the Social Democrats are losing ground. Some young conservatives are even threatening to block the pension bill, saying it doesn't fix the real problems. The defence minister's plan to bring back military service is also causing trouble. The conservatives and the Social Democrats can't even agree on how to introduce it. They tried to come up with a "lottery" system, but the defence minister shot that idea down. Now, everyone's waiting to see how this mess will get sorted out. Merz's approval ratings have taken a big hit. He's now one of the least popular chancellors in recent memory. People are criticizing him for not focusing enough on domestic issues. Even though he's been successful in foreign policy, that's not enough to keep the government running smoothly.