Merz echoes Merkel's 'Wir schaffen das' in push for German reforms

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed confidence in his government's ability to implement successful reforms, drawing a parallel to former Chancellor Angela Merkel's iconic phrase, "Wir schaffen das" (We can do it).

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We can do it, we can achieve it if we all stand together and if we believe in each other again.

Speaking at the CDU party conference in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Merz stated, "We can do it, we can achieve it if we all stand together and if we believe in each other again." He asserted that this is not a utopia but tomorrow's reality, emphasizing the need for collective action to reform the country and regain its competitive edge. Merz dismissed doubts about his government's capacity to modernize Germany, highlighting the nation's inherent strength for reform and a new beginning.

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If we tackle it together and reform this country so that we have a chance to be at the forefront again, to keep up, to become good.

The coalition government, despite ongoing differences, possesses the "strength and necessary unity," Merz claimed. He announced a planned meeting with trade unions and business associations for the following Wednesday to explore potential collaborative initiatives. "We want to sound out what we can imagine together," he said, underscoring the government's "determination to undertake the necessary reforms."

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The coalition in Berlin has the strength and the necessary unity, despite remaining differences.

Merz also pointed to the significance of the upcoming state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, stating that more than just regional futures are at stake. The elections, he suggested, will test the political center's ability to tackle and resolve the country's problems. He invoked Germany's history of transformation, particularly in eastern Germany, noting that "In the East, people know particularly well what it means to lead a country through such a change." Merz praised the economic and scientific dynamism in eastern Germany and advocated for attracting more investment and retaining young talent, stressing the need for openness rather than isolation.

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We want to sound out what we can imagine together.