Balance of Power

Like the Stranded Whale Captivating Germany, Merz Looks Beached

The beleaguered chancellor just can’t seem to catch a break.

Friedrich Merz at his Christian Democratic Union party headquarters in Berlin, on March 23.Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Alan Crawford

April 20, 2026 at 9:59 AM UTC

Welcome to Balance of Power, bringing you the latest in global politics. If you haven’t yet, sign up here.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosts Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Hanover today, but the real action is to the north on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast.