from
Boris Herrmann, Berlin
Now they are practically colleagues, the newly elected SPD chairman and the next CDU chief, who has already been chosen by the grassroots. And so, as befits decency, Lars Klingbeil of course also immediately expressed his congratulations to Friedrich Merz, which he garnished with a carefully measured swipe. In an open mini-letter in the relevant channels, Klingbeil wrote to Merz that he thought it was great that “there is a third chance culture in our country”. You don’t have to be particularly petty to note that Klingbeil actually miscalculated.