German election: Merz meets Scholz to discuss transition

We have to pull ourselves together to form a government that solves our migration issues and our economic issues,

Söder told public broadcaster ARD

It is crucial to keep up the pace, not only for emissions reduction, but also because this would eventually lead to lowering power prices in the midterm, and also to reduce dependencies in imports of fossil fuels,

Metz said

It’s in the top four (issues) consistently of all voters across parties,

Kalcher said

A lot of the policies the new government will put forward might not come in the name of climate, but it will be for prosperity, innovation and competitiveness,

even if the end ... she said

Clean tech sectors and green products can help make Germany competitive again,

said Kalcher

We consider that the text can be improved, to say the least,

Desbazeille said

What we’re eyeing is the fact that Germany has been now obviously leading the … anti-nuclear group,

said one pro-atomic EU diplomat, granted anonymity to speak freely

It’s a do-or-die moment,

said Phuc-Vinh Nguyen, the head of the Paris-based Jacques Delors Centre’s Energy Institute and a nuclear specialist

I would expect nuclear debate to be less divisive,

said a third EU diplomat

Since the founding of our republic over 75 years ago, there has always been a clear consensus among all democrats: we do not make common cause with the extreme right in our parliaments,

he said in January

You can't be weak with President Putin. That's not who you are, it's not your trademark, it's not in your interest.”

He said

The Left focused on a progressive campaign centred around their core issues like rising rents and the high cost of living,

said Jessica Haak, a political scientist at the University of Hamburg

Germany can act as an engine for Europe, helping forge a path towards security and resilience. It can also act as a brake, bringing it to a standstill.”

She said

Except for the AfD, none of the other major parties responded favorably to Musk's interventions during the campaign, and I do not expect this to change in the immediate future,

Dr. Matthias Dilling, a professor of political science at Trinity College Dublin and a co-convenor of the German Politics Specialist Group, told Newsweek

Much will depend on the popularity of the new government,

Hertner said

For now, it seems the firewall will stay in place, so no formal coalitions and cooperation with the AfD, no matter how big their group in the Bundestag will be. At least that's what Merz has claimed,

Hertner said

AfD's views largely align with those of Elon Musk, so they don't seem to mind his interference in German politics,

Hertner said

Elon Musk's involvement contributed to the AfD's growing visibility,

Czymara said

Elon Muskbillionaire

It's good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,

Musk told listeners at the rally, less than a month before voters went to the polls

We saw the horrors wrought by these decisions yesterday in this very city. How many times must we suffer these appalling setbacks before we change course and take our shared civilization in a new direction?"

He was also harsh on Germany's immigration policy in the wake of the asylum-seeker car attack that injured two dozen people, telling attendees