Politics refers to the activities, actions, and policies used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence the governance of a community or state. It encompasses the processes by which groups of people make collective decisions, often through the creation and enforcement of laws and regulations. Politics involves the negotiation and struggle over resources, values, and ideologies, and it is characterized by the participation of various stakeholders, including individuals, political parties, interest groups, and institutions. The term can also denote the study of political systems, behavior, and the theoretical frameworks that explain how political authority is structured and exercised. In a broader sense, politics can extend to the dynamics of power and influence within any social organization, not just governmental contexts.
Friedrich Merz is striving to balance ambition with statesmanlike poise as he seeks a key political victory. Olaf Scholz, marked by his experience, wields sharpened rhetoric to retain the chancellorship…