Markus Lanz confronts Friedrich Merz over “We can do it” remarks

During a Tuesday‑night edition of his talk show, Markus Lanz criticised Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz for invoking Angela Merkel’s famous “Wir schaffen das” line in a recent CDU state conference in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern. Lanz called Merz “Friedrich Merkel” and challenged whether the rhetoric was credible in today’s political climate.

The exchange escalated when CDU MP Johannes Volkmann defended Merz, citing the chancellor’s resilience but rejecting the portrayal of him as weakened. Lanz then showed archival footage of Helmut Kohl warning about the hardships of the chancellor’s office, prompting a debate over emotional versus substantive politics. The host accused Merz of “emotionalising” the discussion and questioned the usefulness of repeated calls for higher productivity.

The confrontation highlighted internal tensions within the CDU over messaging, leadership style and the party’s approach to Germany’s ongoing crises.