EU Confidential Populist currents and fragile coalitions: Trump’s shadow over Europe
May 9, 2025
Nette Nöstlinger, a Berlin-based reporter covering German politics, joins Carmen Paun, a Romanian politics expert, and Tim Ross, chief political correspondent for Europe and the U.K. They dive into Europe's political turmoil, highlighting Friedrich Merz's struggles in Germany and the dramatic rise of a Trump-inspired candidate in Romania. The trio discusses the precariousness of coalition politics, the normalization of far-right parties, and how Trump's influence reshapes voter sentiments, creating a complex landscape for mainstream politics.
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Fragile Coalition for Merz
- Friedrich Merz's coalition in Germany is extremely fragile with a slim majority and some coalition members opposed to him.
- His conservative stance, especially on migration, causes internal friction even within his own party.
Merz Faces Power Challenges
- Merz will likely become one of Germany's weakest chancellors due to a razor-thin parliamentary majority.
- The rise of the AfD party and challenges with the US administration complicate his leadership.
US Support Boosts AfD Influence
- US administration's embrace of the AfD party has helped normalize the far-right in Germany.
- Merz's transatlanticist image may yet allow him to maintain voter confidence despite this challenge.