Prof. Dr. Kronenberg criticized Merz for letting the opportunity to clarify and justify controversial political issues slip by, saying that his speech was rhetorically weak. Merz remained completely silent on the pension conflict, a central point of contention within the coalition. In addition, there has been a change in his rhetoric: during the election campaign, he promised rapid reforms in contrast to his predecessor's government, but now he himself speaks of lengthy processes and signals a slowdown.
Prof. Dr. Kronenberg emphasized the central importance of rhetoric, which Merz currently lacks: it is essential for explaining the complexity of political processes to citizens and building trust. In foreign policy, however, Merz communicates more effectively and has established access to important international players.