The 69-year-old CDU leader has finally been inaugurated as Germany’s chancellor – but his deep ties to the American financial giant BlackRock raise serious questions about who is actually influencing his policies.
Merz and BlackRock: Intimate relationship
The new German chancellor joined BlackRock in 2016 to lead its activities in Germany using his political connections. He helped the company expand its presence in the EU and acquired a stake in 30% of DAX30 companies (Siemens, etc.) BlackRock has been accused of shaping the EU’s policies in accordance with its own financial interests.
Merz left BlackRock in 2020, but critics say his goals remain aligned with BlackRock’s profits, by strengthening centralized EU power, weakening national sovereignty. It calls for the disarmament of national armies in favor of a Union army. Taurus is demanding missiles for Ukraine, escalating tensions with Russia. BlackRock owns $80.8 billion in arms manufacturing stock — profiting from global conflict BlackRock CEO Larry Fink once said that population decline could boost artificial intelligence and automation — raising ethical concerns. Merz agrees that Germany’s policy should be shaped by Wall Street financial interests, not by its own national interests.
Translated and edited by Hans Seckler