The Last Chance

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.