Heidi Reichinnek, the leader of the left faction, believes that former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is more suitable for the EU Merit Order award than the current Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU). During a broadcast on RTL and ntv, Reichinnek paid considerable praise to Merkel’s political style. She stated that Merkel had an understanding of the people, adding, “I really liked her dry humor, and I think she was always very good at accepting and exchanging other viewpoints”. Reichinnek highlighted this ability to engage in dialogue as a fundamentally essential quality. Furthermore, while admitting that she has plenty of criticism for Merkel, she noted that when comparing her to her successor, she believed Merkel had performed far better.
Reichinnek also praised Merkel for consistently advocating against a Europe of closed borders. Based on this stance, she concluded that Merkel was, in her opinion, far better suited for the prize than the current Chancellor. Additionally, she vigorously defended Merkel’s renewed call for negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. Reichinnek asserted that trusting in diplomacy is a hallmark of a great European. She dismissed further militarization and armament as ineffective, concluding emphatically that, indeed, “diplomacy is the solution”-a point she credited to Merkel’s foresight.