Pakistan(National Times)- Merz, 69, is on Tuesday set to be sworn in as the new leader of Europe\u2019s biggest economy, ending half a year of political paralysis in Berlin. The 144-page coalition contract entitled \u201cResponsibility for Germany\u201d lays out a policy roadmap for the next four years for the coalition of the country\u2019s two traditional big-tent parties. The CDU\/CSU alliance of Merz and their future junior partners the Social Democrats (SPD) have vowed to revive the ailing economy and rebuild the military at a time when US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the future of transatlantic security and trade ties. Merz has also vowed to curb irregular migration and halt the rise of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which took second place in February\u2019s snap general election. The AfD was Friday designated a \u201cright-wing extremist\u201d party by Germany\u2019s domestic intelligence service \u2014 a move that has stoked a fresh row with the Trump administration, and against which the AfD launched legal action on Monday. Merz, who boasts a strong business background but has no experience in a government leadership post, at Monday\u2019s signing ceremony pledged \u201cstrong, well-planned and dependable governance\u201d. \u201cWe live in times of profound change, of profound upheaval \u2026 and of great uncertainty, and that is why we know that it is our historic obligation to lead this coalition to success,\u201d he said. The chancellor-in-waiting said the incoming government \u201cis determined to move Germany forward with reforms and investments\u201d and also promised \u201ca government whose voice is heard in Europe and the world\u201d. The SPD\u2019s Lars Klingbeil, the designated vice chancellor and finance minister, said that \u201cthe new government needs real teamwork more than ever\u201d. \u201cWe want to lead Germany back to where it belongs, namely forward.\u201d The outgoing coalition government of SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed last November 6, the day Trump was reelected to the White House. His SPD has since agreed to serve as junior partners to the centre-right alliance of Merz\u2019s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian allies the CSU. Scholz himself will not be part of the new cabinet but stay on in parliament as a lawmaker.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan(National Times)- Merz, 69, is on Tuesday set to be sworn in as the new leader of Europe\u2019s biggest economy, ending half a year of political paralysis in Berlin. The 144-page coalition contract entitled \u201cResponsibility for Germany\u201d lays out a policy roadmap for the next four years for the coalition of the country\u2019s two traditional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":103701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n