‘Suffering Considerably’: Merz Shows Mirror To Trump On Iran, Defends ‘US Being Humiliated’ Stance

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]Yes, ladies and gentlemen, with this um the coalition is showing today that it is both willing and able to make decisions. We are capable of reaching compromises and we negotiate them even if things get a bit uh shaky at times, but that is part of the process. I cannot repeat it often enough. That is simply how democracy works. I am now looking forward with confidence to the further reforms we have planned that we have set out to achieve. The reform of the long-term care insurance will be set in motion shortly. The federal minister of health will be presenting her draft bill for this very soon and we will tackle the reform of the statutory pension insurance this summer. That is the second major socopolitical reform we are then undertaking.

[00:00:43]However, we have not yet reached the end of the road with statutory health insurance. The Health Finance Commission will continue its work. The short-term measures taken today in statutory health insurance must be followed by further structural reforms with medium to long-term effects. However, before I delve into those details in any great depth, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Nina Walkan for the excellent and dedicated work she has performed uh throughout the past 12 months and most especially during the course of these past few weeks. Uh with great courage, a sense of proportion, honesty, and empathy, she has presented a reform that serves as a model for all the major reforms we still intend to achieve within the coalition.

[00:01:24]Um, I just want to thank you again personally, dear Nina, for the determin determination and the pace you have set here. It truly deserves the greatest possible recognition and you know that I have always fully supported you in this endeavor. The ball is now firmly in the in the parliament's court. The coalition factions should now without any further delay discuss and pass this draft law.

[00:01:46]It is an it is our firm intention to have this major reform fully completed well before the upcoming parliamentary summer break and subsequently passed by the Bundesraat. Crucially, this entire reform package does not actually require their formal consent. Therefore, we anticipate there will not be any lengthy or complicated process in the Bundes. It can be enacted quite quickly by the time the parliamentary summer break arrives.

[00:02:07]>> Mr. Chancellor, next week marks the first anniversary of your chancellorship. You have said that there are sometimes bumps in the road in the coalition.

[00:02:15]Um the impression that has emerged recently is that there is some friction.

[00:02:19]Um the vice chancellor said that he occasionally lets himself be yelled at.

[00:02:24]Um comparisons to the traffic light coalition are occasionally being made.

[00:02:28]Uh can you guarantee uh that this coalition will last for another 3 years um until the end of the legislative term?

[00:02:35]>> Um well, nobody can guarantee anything.

[00:02:38]Um I uh want to clarify once more I don't yell at anyone um that um we we naturally have discussions from time to time even heated discussions but you can see from today's example that uh we are uh willing and able to act. Um we have made two major decisions today. We have adopted the key parameters for the um 2027 budget um along with the financial planning for 2026 to 2030. Uh the previous coalition had already abandoned that. They didn't even do that anymore.

[00:03:09]Uh key financial figures were no longer on the agenda for the cabinet meetings and today with the statutory health insurance reform, we have done something that has been overdue for 20 years or let's say should have been done 10 years ago. Uh this shows that this coalition is is capable of taking action and we we always make such good decisions.

[00:03:29]>> Mr. Chancellor, um you know, at the beginning of your term, you were very keen on a harmonious good relationship with the US president. Um you have quite noticeably um sharpened your tone and stance towards um Mr. Trump over the course of these um recent weeks. Um could you perhaps take a moment to share with us your underlying motives for this um well, I would venture to say strategic or at the very least rhetorical realignment towards the American president?

[00:03:58]Um, have you given up hope for a cooperative relationship with Trump? And what does that mean for the transatlantic relationship?

[00:04:06]>> Um, no, Mr. Del, not at all. The um personal relationship between the American president and me is um, at least from my perspective still good. Um um uh I just had uh doubts from the beginning uh about what uh was started there with Iraq war and um uh that is why I expressed that. Uh we are currently suffering quite significantly both in Germany and in Europe from the consequences of for example the closure of the strait of hormones. This has an immediate and direct impact on our energy supply. This has a massive impact on our economic performance and therefore I strongly urge that this conflict be resolved and that we remain in good discussions with one another.

[00:04:48]Um the federal foreign minister returned from New York just this morning and reported on a wide variety of talks there including with the American government. So we remain to put it in English American terms on good speaking terms. If he truly intends to sell this proposal to his own citizens and secure a clear majority in support of it and he finds himself obligated to hold a national referendum, then he must simultaneously explain to the entire population.

[00:05:13]>> When they say the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, I said Tuesday, that's a long time from now. When you get right down to it, it's a lot of traveling. No, we don't want to do Hopefully, there will be a peace treaty with Russia at some point. Then it is possible that part of Ukraine's territory will no longer be Ukrainian.

[00:05:51]If he truly intends to sell this proposal to his own citizens and secure a clear majority in support of it, and he finds himself obligated to hold a national referendum on the matter, then he must simultaneously explain to the entire population. However, I have successfully opened the path toward Europe for all of you. And it is essential that we provide a truly credible response to that. We cannot just say um you can join us someday.

[00:06:12]Instead, we must tell Ukraine, yes, there is a concrete road map, a step-by-step process for how you can move closer to the European Union. And these are the initial steps that are credible, irreversible, and that will ultimately lead to full membership in the European Union. It is becoming clear that the Americans lack a coherent, well-defined strategy. The fundamental issue with such conflicts is always the same. It is not enough to find a way in.

[00:06:37]You must also know how to get out. We witnessed that reality play out painfully in Afghanistan over 20 long years. And we saw that same pattern repeat in Iraq as well. I don't see at the moment which um what strategic exit the Americans are choosing now, especially since the Iranians are obviously um negotiating very skillfully or just as skillfully not negotiating and um letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then letting them leave again without any results.

[00:07:09]An entire nation is being subjected to profound and constant humiliation at the hands of the current Iranian leadership and most of all by the oppressive actions of these so-called revolutionary gods.

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