Proposal for a European Union Directive standardizing food product labeling across Member States
In the Chancellery, after 100 days in office, Chancellor Friedrich Merz gathered his CDU leadership for consultations that primarily revolved around the internal party issues sparked by his decision to suspend arms deliveries to Israel. This move, made without prior consultation, had garnered significant backlash within his party and from allied groups like the CSU, who criticised Merz for acting unilaterally on a sensitive foreign policy matter.
The consultations aimed to address the internal crisis and justify this controversial foreign policy move amid growing dissent within the coalition and party ranks. The meetings, initially reported by the "Bild" newspaper, were later confirmed by the German Press Agency from CDU circles.
The attendees included CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, Karin Prien (Federal Minister of Education), Michael Kretschmer (Minister President of Saxony), Silvia Breher (Agricultural State Secretary), and Karl-Josef Laumann (NRW Health Minister). The discussions during these meetings focused on the current situation and the need for cooperation within the coalition with the SPD, as well as addressing public sentiment.
Chancellor Merz regularly meets with his deputy party chairs, and these consultations took place following the controversy surrounding the failed appointment of a judge and the contentious decision to impose a partial export ban on arms to Israel. The meetings, scheduled for 9:00 PM, did not extend beyond midnight, as Merz left the Chancellery after midnight.
During these meetings, Merz was also preparing for video conferences with US President Donald Trump and others scheduled for Wednesday. The government spokesman confirmed the information to the German Press Agency (dpa). The Chancellor exchanged views with some people from his leadership circle during this time, but no new attendees were mentioned beyond those previously stated.
Merz's approach to foreign policy challenges during his first 100 days, particularly the Ukraine conflict and Germany's role in European security, as well as the creation of a National Security Council to better coordinate security policy responses, have sometimes been perceived as unilateral. This has led to internal party friction and debates on Germany’s leadership role and foreign policy consistency.
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