This writer refuses to let the allure of power fade, transforming political reality into a captivating narrative. (Die Zeit) Friedrich Merz faces formidable challenges as Trump and Putin threaten the old world order. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party threatens to dismantle Germany’s political center. The new chancellor intends to govern in a way that is radically different from the ousted traffic-light coalition. However, the challenges that led to the coalition’s disastrous failure remain: the economic crisis, climate change, immigration, and the rearmament of the German armed forces. With no prior government experience and already weakened upon taking office, can Friedrich Merz rise to the occasion? And what must he learn from the traffic-light coalition debacle to seize what may be the last chance to save our democracy from the ultimate rise of the far right? At this crucial juncture in German politics, bestselling author Robin Alexander tells the behind-the-scenes story: from Merz’s taboo-breaking with the Alternative for Germany party and his secret talks with Olaf Scholz, to the drama surrounding the trillion-euro debt package. This compelling book reveals why, in a fragmented party landscape and a volatile public sphere, political actors struggle to meet major challenges.
| Publisher | Ars Vivendi Verlag |
| Author | Robin Alexander |
| Country | Germany |
| Publication Date | 12/03/2026 |
| Pages | 265 |
| Edition | first |
| Size | 14.53 x 2.34 x 21.67 cm |
| About the Author | Born in 1975, Robin Alexander is one of Berlin's leading political journalists. He worked as an editor for the newspaper Taz and a reporter for Vanity Fair before joining the Welt media group in 2008. In 2013, he was awarded the prestigious Theodor Wolf Prize. Since 2019, he has served as deputy editor-in-chief for political affairs at Welt. |
| Publisher Address | info@arsvivendi.com |
| ISBN | 9783641330972 |
