Crisis in the Union: Merz wants to see the CDU presidency

Just making a phone call is no longer enough. Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz has invited the party leadership to a formal meeting in Berlin on Sunday evening to discuss the results of the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin and their consequences. This is reported by several media outlets, and it was confirmed by party circles to the taz.

A report in the newsletter “Table Briefings” according to which Merz was considering using this opportunity to ask a kind of internal question of trust: either support or overthrow was not confirmed. However, people close to the Chancellor said that a question of trust is not an instrument of the Presidium, neither directly nor indirectly. Anyone who plays with such terms is setting fire to the party and the government. It goes without saying that the Chancellor is seeking the support of the Presidium.

The Presidium forms the political leadership level of the party; the Prime Ministers of the federal states are also represented as full or advisory members. The Reuters news agency learned from party leadership that the Prime Minister and the other members of the Presidium will then stand behind Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz. A few days ago he said that after the elections he wanted to start a debate about the direction of the CDU and a kind of new generational contract.

The elections are also about the political future of the Chancellor. It will then become clear whether he can stay in office despite an increasing loss of authority in his own party. There is speculation that Merz could be overthrown by the CDU state leaders. He himself appears determined to fight for his office. “Giving up is not an option for me,” he said after the CDU’s election debacle in Saxony-Anhalt.

In recent surveys, the Union has fallen below 20 percent nationwide. In a survey published on Tuesday, the Insa Institute sees the CDU/CSU at 19.5 percent, and Yougov at only 18 percent.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Union is threatened with a fall to 6 to 7 percent, and it is also threatened with significant losses in the elections in Berlin.

In previous state elections there were also invitations to the CDU leadership to the party headquarters. However, these were informal and the participation was therefore manageable. After the election in Saxony-Anhalt, for example, of the CDU prime ministers, only Daniel Günther from Schleswig-Holstein came to the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus. This time the aim is for the Presidium to be present as fully as possible to discuss the consequences of the results.

Merz also made it clear on Tuesday at the Federal Association of Wholesale and Foreign Trade (BGA) in Berlin that he intends to remain in office. He was elected for four years and wanted to prove that this coalition was capable of reform policies, said Merz. “I am determined to stick to this course.”

At the same time, Merz attempted to escape his unpopularity and announced reductions in fuel prices. However, the exact instruments have not yet been determined. (with agencies)