"At the end of the press conference Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk shook hands. Before it happened, it was impossible to see or feel excessive compatibility" - writes the German weekly "Der Spiegel" in the online edition, reporting the visit of the fresh German Chancellor in Warsaw.
"On the first day of his law firm, Merz already reaches the limits of what is possible," explains the author of Christoph Hicksmann's coverage.
He recalls that on Wednesday (May 7) Friedrich Merz's visits to Paris and Warsaw were intended to repair his relation with 2 neighbors who suffered heavy during the time of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It was expected to be a "signal of a fresh beginning". "It worked rather well in Paris, where Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron showed harmony despite any substantive differences. Here, in the Polish capital, contrasts are greater. Sharper. This is besides due to the fact that there will be presidential elections in Poland on 18 May. Tusk has to score respective points in public here, including against his German neighbour" – the writer "Spiegel" estimates.
Return to Reality
It adds that this is primarily a substance of tightening up German border controls and plans for the withdrawal of migrants, including those with the right to asylum. As he reports, Tusk rejects border controls within the EU, and he made it as clear as the language of diplomacy allows.
According to the author in Warsaw, Merz "was able to feel how complex European reality is".
In a akin tone, Tusk-Merz writes about the gathering in the online edition of Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ). "This visit on Merz's first full day of office wanted to show his large appreciation for the Polish neighbour. Therefore, he flew to Warsaw 2 hours after the conventional first gathering abroad in Paris. But coming to the Polish Prime Minister's office is like returning to the real world. During the election run the CDU leader talked a lot about boundaries – they were now shown to him" – he estimates "SZ".
"The cold shower" on the first day
The "Bild" diary writes: "The first day of work of the fresh Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended with a cold shower! In Warsaw, Merz had to perceive to harsh criticism from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's run campaign leader. This 1 did not hide that he was not satisfied with tightened up only a fewer hours before border controls and the return of migrants in Germany".
"Enraged Tusk – unusual, especially for specified an inaugural visit. But it sees difficulties for its own citizens, especially for commuters and for trade!" adds "Bild". It points out that Tusk wants to address the problem of illegal migration at the EU's external borders and expects Germany to support the protection of the border with Belarus.
Not only differences of opinion
On the another hand, ARD's public tv correspondent stresses that on many issues Tusk and Merz agreed, specified as the improvement of infrastructure between Poland and Germany, the strengthening of European defence, assistance to Ukraine or the threat from Russia. "Donald Tusk nods. These are statements that are well received in Poland. But, as he says, they know each another besides long and besides well not to realize that there are besides complicated conversations on the agenda," adds Martin Adam, quoting Tusk's critical statements on border control and plans to turn migrants from the German border.
He besides writes "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" about differences of opinion in these cases. However, the paper points out that "from the Polish position the change of government in Germany is simply a blessing". Tusk never liked Scholz. With Merze, however, he knew where he stood, as Tusk himself said. Both have identical views and concrete ideas for the future of Europe, strengthening the Weimar Triangle, developing defence capabilities and supporting Ukraine. And Merz immediately made it clear that he understood Polish sensitivity" - added the paper in the online edition, quoting the Chancellor's statements about knowing German work for the harm caused to Poland during planet War II.
