[DeepSeaTortoise]

Dont mistake malice for incompetence.

Friendly reminder he EXPLICITLY ran on protecting debt-limits in the German constitution, got elected on those promises and then changed course literally on day 1 after being elected.

[eqvinox]

Okay, yeah, sure, maybe the "don't assume malice" is out the window at this point. There are things he's genuinely incompetent on, though. Just google "Merz realitätsfern" (= lost touch with reality).

[1718627440]

> Friendly reminder he EXPLICITLY ran on protecting debt-limits in the German constitution, got elected on those promises and then changed course literally on day 1 after being elected.

Having less debt was indeed a major election topic of the CDU. But often in summaries of the media it was reported as if it he was against debts completely, while when he was asked in interviews if he wanted to abolish the dept-limit, he clearly refused to deny it. He answered that he *also* wants to cut funding to reduce the budget elsewhere. So in my opinion, the reports about him reversing course completely where exaggerated, and his actions were an obvious continuation to his prior election talks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljvuNRU7RgE&t=3720s

Unrelated, why can't I get that video on the websites of the original broadcasters and need to access it through a third-party USA company?