A German Chancellor’s Farewell Tone and a Rival’s Rhetorical Progress
According to Michael Ehlers, a rhetoric trainer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s recent public appearances during the election campaign had a farewell tone to them. Ehlers told the Rheinische Post that Scholz attempted to explain the accomplishments of his chancellorship in short, clear and understandable sentences, but it sounded like a farewell tour to him.
In contrast, CDU’s chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz showed rhetorical progress, Ehlers noted. Merz was seen laughing and demonstrated a sense of humor, such as when he rejected Alice Weidel’s advances. This kind of approach likely earned him sympathy points, particularly among undecided voters. However, Ehlers observed that Merz’s success was short-lived, as he would often fall back into old patterns and become overbearing when he enjoyed his success.