Friedrich Merz spent almost three hours answering questions from CDU district chairs at the party’s headquarters in Berlin on Monday, as members raised concerns about poor polling, recent state election results and the government’s unfulfilled reform promises. Several attendees said the meeting gave them room to express their frustration, but some felt Merz offered too little direction for the party.
The agenda had initially included topics such as party structure, digitalisation and internal disciplinary procedures. Some participants questioned whether technical discussions would leave enough time for criticism. After those concerns were raised, the planned working groups were replaced with more time for open discussion.
Merz began with a speech on international changes, saying Germany’s economic model was under pressure. He pointed to the country’s past reliance on close ties with the United States, cheap Russian gas and China as a manufacturing base. He also acknowledged difficulties within the governing coalition, while arguing that it had enough common ground to lead the country through a challenging period. Merz said reforms had been left undone for 10 to 15 years and that Germany had become too comfortable, including himself.
The cost of living featured prominently in the discussion. District chairs pressed for reforms, particularly the CDU’s proposed cut to electricity tax for everyone, which has not yet been funded. Merz also reiterated that the party would not cooperate with the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The meeting touched on the search for a successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Merz said the CDU would back a woman candidate from the political centre, but did not name anyone. He reportedly said the candidate should be acceptable to the CDU/CSU, the Social Democrats and the Greens. More details may emerge at the next meeting of the CDU executive on November 9.
Some participants challenged Merz’s emphasis on the number of senior state offices held by CDU figures. One district chair said the party could give up some positions if it had achieved more on policy; the remark drew prolonged applause. Others said Merz had admitted that his communication could sometimes be too harsh, but also maintained that he would not let his role as chancellor prevent him from speaking freely.
Attendees praised the frankness of the contributions, including criticism of the broken promise not to take on new debt after the federal election. Some said the decision had not been explained in terms people could understand. Several district chairs also said they had hoped for more from Merz as CDU chairman, including a clearer vision for the party. Despite the criticism, multiple participants described the mood at the end of the meeting as positive.
Sources: FAZ.