Der Spiegel had a conversation with Friedrich Merz. Der Spiegel: ‘Despite your effort to remain on friendly terms with Trump, the trans-Atlantic relationship is fraying. Would it not be more credible for an avowed trans-Atlanticist such as yourself to push forward Europe’s emancipation from the U.S.?’

Merz: ‘I would put the word "emancipation" in quotation marks. But it is true that the trans-Atlantic relationship as I once knew it has not existed in that form for quite a number of years.’

And: ‘Merz: “We have not done a good job of managing expectations.”’

Also: ‘Merz: “We cannot simply carry on as we have over the last 20 years. I accept that I will be attacked for saying such a thing.”’

How to win an election by lowering expectations—that’s the question.

Maybe: We won’t start a war; we will surrender ASAP.

Or simply: “The Party for Unconditional Surrender.”

(a sf 2123)