German CDU leader Friedrich Merz ‘resolute and determined,' former EU chief Barroso says
Merz’s centre-right CDU emerged as the largest party in Sunday’s federal elections, winning 208 seats in the 630-seat German parliament.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/02/25/german-cdu-leader-friedrich-merz-resolute-and-determined-says-former-eu-chief
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Merz’s centre-right CDU emerged as the largest party in Sunday’s federal elections, winning 208 seats in the 630-seat German parliament.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/02/25/german-cdu-leader-friedrich-merz-resolute-and-determined-says-former-eu-chief
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:00Former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has described Germany's likely
00:06next chancellor as a resolute person who understands the country's priorities in terms of the economy
00:13and defence.
00:14Friedrich Merz, what I know from him, is a much more, let's say, resolute, determined
00:20person, stronger also in his style, with clear ideas. I think he's going to make it clear
00:26the priorities for Germany being the economy and defence, which for me is obvious. That's
00:32where the politicians in Germany should focus their attention.
00:37Merz's conservative CDU emerged as the largest party in Sunday's federal elections, although
00:44he will now have to begin coalition talks with the centre-left Social Democrats before
00:49he can secure his position as chancellor.
00:53Merz has so far outlined three key topics in these negotiations, curbing migration,
00:59strengthening the economy and determining Europe's foreign and security policy.
01:05He has also pledged to make Europe more independent from the United States, something Barroso
01:11described as exceptional.
01:14Friedrich Merz has been an Atlanticist. He's a pro-American. In fact, his professional
01:21life, working also with United States companies and so on. So he has no prejudice against
01:26the United States. On the contrary, but considering the latest developments, he thinks it's important
01:32to show leadership at the European level. And that is what I think Europe needs now.
01:37Merz has, however, emphasised that he will do everything he can to continue a good transatlantic
01:43relationship with the United States, even if this may be more difficult with the new
01:47Trump administration.
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