Germany’s Chancellor Merz:
I naturally ask myself how it could have come this far, what the reasons are that we allowed right-wing populism — and, in large parts, right-wing extremist populism — to come this far.
I do not point only to an international trend that we are seeing everywhere. I also look for the reasons here in Germany. Of course, I look for them among ourselves as well. I look for them in myself.
What disappointments are there that have led to this kind of voting behavior?
What fear exists among the population that we may also have underestimated?
There is also the accumulation of crises in the world — war, artificial intelligence, and many other issues that are causing people great concern.
Reassessing all of this and developing a greater understanding of it is, I believe, one of the tasks that all of us have — and one that I personally accept as well.