Merz seeks a 'new Steinmeier' to tackle Germany's looming reforms
Despite CDU Leadership Confirmation, Merz Needs a "Chief Reformer"
Friedrich Merz has emerged stronger as CDU leader. But the mounting reform challenges are increasingly overwhelming the chancellor's office.
Now that's a statement. The CDU party conference in Stuttgart delivered Friedrich Merz a result his CSU counterpart Markus Söder can only dream of. It was far from a foregone conclusion—discontent still simmers within the party. The Merkel loyalists find the chancellor too heavy-handed, while the younger members see him as too timid.
All of this has been well documented. Yet in the end—despite a surprisingly lackluster conference speech—party delegates recognized that the CDU gains nothing by toppling the chancellor in a reckless coup. Instead, Merz, who faces sharp public criticism, has undeniably come out stronger.
The reality? They shouldn't be sidelining Merz—they should be cloning him. The sheer scale of the challenges, both foreign and domestic, is simply too vast for one person. The chancellor rushes from one summit to the next—next week China, the week after the U.S.—so how can he simultaneously navigate the complexities of pension, long-term care, and healthcare funding, stand up to interest groups and lobbyists, and keep his own party united?
Of course, the chancellor ultimately bears responsibility, and all reforms will be tied to his name. But the fierce debates over the welfare state in recent weeks demand a restructuring of the government's approach.
What's needed is a strong figure working behind the scenes—a kind of "chief reformer" to clear the way for Merz. Someone respected across party lines, who can broker compromises across policy areas. During Gerhard Schröder's Agenda 2010, that role was filled by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, then unknown to most Germans. He gave no interviews, appeared on no talk shows. There was pushback, naturally. But in the end, the program moved Germany forward for years. Right now, everyone is talking about the next federal president—but perhaps the more pressing question is: Who will be the "new Steinmeier"?
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