Overview
- Johannes Winkel says many in the Union are annoyed by Angela Merkel’s frequent interventions in day-to-day politics and calls them more credible only with self-criticism.
- Winkel cites Merkel-era energy dependence on Russia, her Ukraine policy, and her high-profile appearance with Viktor Orbán in Budapest, along with criticism of Poland, as reasons for his stance.
- Urging a “real reform drive,” he argues the government has offered no answers on social-state overhaul or demographic pressures and insists action is overdue.
- He credits Chancellor Friedrich Merz with the will for major reforms but doubts delivery with the SPD, invoking Merz’s pledge of a new “Generationenvertrag” and saying the Junge Union expects results.
- As a model, he lauds Gerhard Schröder’s Agenda 2010 for its political risk-taking and says he hopes for a similar moment for Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, according to his interview with Der Spiegel reported via dpa.