Sociologist Steffen Mau criticizes Chancellor Merz and political landscape

Sociologist Steffen Mau has identified significant deficits in the governance of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). Speaking to Handelsblatt, Mau described Merz’s leadership as being in “flicker mode,” suggesting the Chancellor is driven by the fluctuations of public discourse and lacks the necessary professional tools to lead programmatically.

Mau attributed these issues not only to Merz but also to a loss of programmatic foundation within the CDU, stating the party lacks a clear identity and direction. He noted that mainstream parties have ceased to be agenda-setters, often oscillating between adopting AfD rhetoric and distancing themselves from the far-right, which keeps the AfD at the center of political attention.

Regarding the AfD, Mau stated that the disappearance of the party from the German political landscape is an unrealistic expectation. He noted that the speed of societal polarization has exceeded expectations and that the AfD successfully exploits widespread insecurity and economic uncertainty. Mau characterized the AfD as a “political highwayman” that thrives on waves of agitation rather than consensus-based programs. He concluded that stabilizing democracy requires governments capable of delivering results in state modernization, bureaucracy reduction, and investments in education and infrastructure.