German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes his seat at the TV studio prior to his annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes his seat at the TV studio prior to his annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) takes his seat at the TV studio prior to his annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes his seat at the TV studion prior to the annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) takes his seat at the TV studion prior to the annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) arrives at the TV studion prior to his annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at the TV studion prior to his annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives at the TV studion prior to his annual summer interview with public broadcaster ARD in Berlin on August 30, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)