German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that US President Donald Trump will continue to make key decisions bypassing Congress, despite the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections. In his assessment, the transition of control over both houses of the American parliament to the Democrats will not lead to a significant limitation of presidential powers in the near future.
This was reported on November 4 by Deutsche Welle, citing Merz's statement made during the economic forum of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in Berlin.
The Chancellor noted that over the past two years, Trump has primarily governed the country through presidential executive orders, without resorting to coordinating many decisions with Congress.
"For the last two years, Trump has largely governed bypassing Congress. Why should that change now?" — Merz said.
According to the head of the German government, the American constitutional system gives the president significantly more independence than the German Chancellor. In particular, the head of the White House has broad powers in the field of executive authority and can make certain decisions regardless of the position of legislators.
Merz expects that Trump will continue to actively use presidential executive orders. Therefore, the Democrats' victory, in the Chancellor's opinion, does not in itself mean a significant change in Washington's political course.
At the same time, the Chancellor acknowledged that the new Congress will be able to influence US budget policy, including the planning of armed forces spending.
However, such changes will take time and will not lead to an immediate revision of the decisions of the current administration.
In the midterm elections on November 3, the Democrats gained a majority in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. This will expand their ability to oversee the Trump administration's activities, conduct parliamentary investigations, and influence the passage of laws and the federal budget.
At the same time, the new powers of Congress do not cancel the president's constitutionally provided rights, including the use of executive orders and the veto power.
Merz's position differs from the more optimistic assessments of some German politicians who hope that the election results will allow them to restrain certain initiatives of the US administration.
Official Berlin intends to continue close cooperation with Washington regardless of changes in the political balance in the US Congress.
Based on materials from: Deutsche Welle, Deutschlandfunk, dpa-AFX.
