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Chancellor Merz Faces Criticism Amid Power Outage, Tensions

1/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces early-2026 pressures, including a Berlin power outage affecting 100,000 residents and international tensions over a US intervention in Venezuela.
Merz has responded cautiously, avoiding direct mention of international law violations.
He replaced his office manager to improve communication and sharpen economic focus.
Public support remains low, with only 24% of Germans approving his leadership.

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Story summary

Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces early-2026 pressures, including a Berlin power outage affecting 100,000 residents and international tensions over a US intervention in Venezuela.
Merz has responded cautiously, avoiding direct mention of international law violations.
He replaced his office manager to improve communication and sharpen economic focus.
Public support remains low, with only 24% of Germans approving his leadership.