{"text":[[{"start":5.84,"text":"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke candidly about the state of his Christian Democratic Union after terrible results in regional elections. The CDU on Sunday was wiped out altogether in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the first time it has failed to win seats in a regional parliament since the founding of the Federal Republic in 1949. It was, Merz said, a “dramatic” outcome with long-lasting repercussions for his party."}],[{"start":35.02,"text":"The CDU also lost power in Berlin, which is now likely to be led by the far left. The double defeat followed a crushing loss to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month. Christian Democrats “no longer have satisfactory answers to far too many questions”, their leader conceded. The once mighty party of Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Kohl and Angela Merkel was “only in some respects” still a broad-based people’s party."}],[{"start":64.44,"text":"In Germany’s decentralised system, regional elections are never solely about national politics. But widespread dissatisfaction with Merz’s unwieldy coalition of Christian Democrats and the Social Democratic Party and the record-low popularity of the chancellor himself were important factors behind the CDU’s drubbing. Party knives were already out for Merz this summer after a botched cabinet reshuffle seemed to confirm his weak political skills."}],[{"start":91,"text":"The AfD’s stunning victory in Saxony-Anhalt sparked feverish speculation about a leadership battle. This time Merz promptly set out to pre-empt any revolt, combatively insisting he would carry on as chancellor with the support of party barons. In truth, he looks like a condemned man politically. Any reprieve is likely to be shortlived."}],[{"start":112.2,"text":"In Merz’s favour there is no party consensus on who should succeed him: a moderate like Hendrik Wüst, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, or a conservative like Markus Söder, the Bavarian leader. But this may not last long. If Wüst can steer his party to victory in elections in his home state in April, his claim would be hard to fend off. It seems hardly conceivable that the CDU would want Merz to serve another term as chancellor. So sooner or later a succession plan will become unavoidable. Pressure may also grow for Merz to give up the chairmanship of the CDU and focus on his chancellorship just as Merkel did three years before leaving office. But Merkel was far more popular at that point than Merz is now and had 13 years as German leader under her belt. Giving up the party leadership might just hasten Merz’s demise."}],[{"start":160.96,"text":"Merz said the election disasters were a “profound turning point” for his party. But there are no new easy directions in which to take it. Ending the coalition and running a minority centre-right government, as some in his party have suggested, might look appealing. It is fanciful to think, however, that it could govern without compromising with its opponents. The firewall policy of excluding any co-operation with the AfD has failed to curb the latter’s rise while depleting support for the CDU. But working with an increasingly radical far right, even within strict red lines, would be a massive step that could break the CDU apart."}],[{"start":197.36,"text":"Merz’s answer, for now, is rightly to double down on economic and welfare reforms. Steering through important reforms to pensions, out-of-work benefits and employment rules would be a service to Germany but will be difficult. Some Social Democrats and many voters now want them watered down, and Merz is short on the dexterity and salesmanship needed to push them through. But he should expend whatever time and political capital he may have left to put the country on a better footing."}],[{"start":227.3,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1790053200_5036.mp3"}