CDU leadership summoned to the Chancellery by Merz
In a bid to mend internal conflicts and restore cohesion, Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened a meeting with the CDU leadership at the Federal Chancellery on Tuesday evening, 19th August, 2025. The gathering, which included CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, Deputy Party Chairs Karin Prien and Michael Kretschmer, Agriculture State Secretary Silvia Breher, and NRW Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann, was primarily called to address the unrest and anger within the CDU caused by Merz's decision on arms deliveries to Israel.
The meeting came amidst wider political turbulence within the CDU, with significant disagreements within the ruling coalition and leadership challenges faced by Merz during his first 100 days in office. The controversy surrounding the failed judicial appointment and the decision to impose a partial export ban on weapons to Israel further fueled the unrest.
The meeting was not a crisis meeting, but rather a regular gathering for Merz to meet with his deputy party chairs. It was scheduled to discuss the mood in the coalition and the "current situation," as well as the situation and cooperation in the coalition with the SPD, and the mood among the population after 100 days in office.
The meeting followed the controversy surrounding the failed judicial appointment and the controversial decision to impose a partial export ban on weapons to Israel. The impression is strengthening that Chancellor Merz may be facing challenges in his leadership, but the outcome of the meeting remains to be seen. The discussion during the meeting revolved around managing internal party strife, particularly concerning controversial foreign policy decisions regarding Israel, and addressing unresolved questions and dissatisfaction within the party ranks at a sensitive moment for Merz's chancellorship.
- The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the programme to include policy-and-legislation discussions and general news related to the current political turbulence within the CDU, including the controversies surrounding the failed judicial appointment and the partial export ban on weapons to Israel, as well as the internal party strife regarding controversial foreign policy decisions regarding Israel.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the politics surrounding Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership are under scrutiny, with the news media rampant with general updates on his perceived challenges, exemplified by the controversies surrounding the failed judicial appointment and the partial export ban on weapons to Israel, as well as the internal party strife regarding controversial foreign policy decisions regarding Israel.
