"Invest in Germany": Merz sways the world elite and loses the Germans

Whether it is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, or Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon: Friedrich Merz (CDU) lacks nothing at his first international investment summit. On Monday evening, the Federal Chancellor receives around 500 guests in the former power plant in Berlin-Mitte. On Tuesday, about 200 business leaders are to speak about business in Germany. Merz needs their money. At least as urgently, he needs their optimism. Because he is also supposed to spread it to the Germans. Foreign investors looked significantly more positive about the German location in government circles according to Handelsblatt than the Germans themselves. Merz himself already stated at the employer's day a week ago that the summit also concerns a message from the investors to the population: We believe in Germany. That is a nice message. Only trust in Germany is not the same as trust in Merz as government leader. A CEO can expect excellent business here and still consider the economic policy of the federal government insufficient. Travel highlights Travel highlights exclusively for you More When the Nvidia CEO flies to the Chancellor, he first only flies to Berlin and has not yet issued a seal of approval for Merz's government work. Hopefully, he won't get anything from the BER chaos! It would be embarrassing to see upon landing that the Germans cannot handle it. Chaos Days at the BER: Welcome to the airport that cannot handle it "Invest in Germany": Merz attracts international investors – he does not convince the Germans While Merz is attracting international investors, he is further losing support at home. At the end of July, 26 percent of those surveyed in the ZDF Political Barometer still rated his work as rather good, in August it was 20 percent, and at the end of September, only 17 percent. In the barometer of September 25th, 79 percent of respondents rated Merz's work as Federal Chancellor as rather poor. 67 percent doubted that he can continue his reform course. Yet, 85 percent considered fundamental reforms important even if they bring financial burdens and cuts. The Germans know that something must change. They doubt that this Chancellor can achieve it. Merz has finally aroused high expectations with his earlier promises: less bureaucracy, better framework conditions for companies, and yes, finally economic growth. But after one and a half years, his government does not convince large parts of the population. Around two-thirds of those surveyed in the ZDF barometer expected that his chancellorship would even end early by the end of September. Merz's Investment Summit: Old Promises Do Not Become New Money Of course, Germany needs private capital. But the federal government must not mistake a well-attended summit for an economic breakthrough. According to Handelsblatt, five companies on stage are supposed to present their recently announced projects and announce "partial" new investments. The word "partial" is crucial here: Already known projects are not made additional by the fact that the Chancellor is next to them. The first Merz initiative "Made for Germany" in July of last year with 61 German companies proved to be, in retrospect, mostly a PR show when the Berliner Zeitung learned that a large part of the announced investments was apparently decided long ago and not additionally created within the framework of the initiative. Nvidia CEO as Guest Star in Berlin: Merz wants to bring billions for Germany at the investment summit Merz Interview with the Financial Times: Is the Chancellor fleeing abroad again? What the French protests actually show For this summit, only which money really comes into the country, under what conditions it is invested, and when concrete jobs and value creation arise matters. Merz must now show what he offers to companies facing insolvency and to employees who fear for their jobs. He does not regain their trust by having Larry Fink or Jensen Huang standing next to him. The radical protests in France show at the latest how little the general public thinks of the elite when the government is cutting and saving in important areas such as health and education. In Germany, citizens have expressed their dissatisfaction with the current situation since voting – or rather, revoking. Merz should not confuse this anger merely with bad mood, which a few good-tempered star investors can easily redirect. Your opinion is important to us. Send us your feedback on this article: briefe@berliner-zeitung.de