Europe war-games life after Merz

The German chancellor's political troubles have prompted EU partners to begin planning for a possible change in leadership, officials and diplomats have revealed. After a series of electoral defeats and internal strife over social care policy, the prospect of a weakened or distracted Merz has become a topic of concern in Brussels.

Two governments have even conducted exercises to explore the implications of such a scenario, though the likelihood of a far-right government taking power in Germany remains low in the short term. Merz, who leads the EU's largest economy and is a key negotiator for wealthy countries on budget cuts, remains committed to his position, insisting that his leadership in Europe is an incentive rather than a distraction.

However, his political weakness at home may complicate efforts to reach a consensus on the bloc's next seven-year budget, with hardliners pushing for significant cuts. While his replacement would likely come from his own party or the ruling coalition, any shift in leadership could pose a challenge to Germany's influence in Europe.