Proposed Commission Directive on Unifying Food Labeling Laws Among Member States
Chancellor Merz Holds Closed-Door Meeting with CDU Leadership
Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened a meeting with the CDU leadership at the Chancellery, 100 days into his term, to address a series of political difficulties and declining voter confidence. The discussions focused on several critical issues within the coalition.
The controversial decision to limit arms exports to Israel, especially systems potentially used against Hamas, was a key point of contention. Many within the CDU/CSU coalition viewed this as an unnecessary shift damaging relations with a strategic partner amid the Middle East security crisis. Merz defended it as a foreign policy adjustment.
Frustration over the unfulfilled promise to cut the electricity tax for all citizens, a commitment made in the coalition pact with the SPD, was also raised during the talks.
The chaotic failure to elect new candidates for the Federal Constitutional Court, which reflected deeper governmental dysfunction, was another issue discussed. This upset several regional CDU leaders who privately criticized the administration for seeming erratic and lacking a clear direction.
The meeting was held in a context of low approval ratings for Merz’s government despite some achievements in its first 10 weeks, such as launching investment programmes and raising defense spending. However, political missteps and perceived internal conflicts have overshadowed the government's efforts, leading to a sense of crisis within the party.
The meeting was attended by CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, Karin Prien (deputy party chair and Federal Minister of Education), Michael Kretschmer (Minister President of Saxony), Silvia Breher (Agriculture State Secretary), and Karl-Josef Laumann (NRW Health Minister).
The Chancellor was available for any necessary pre-talks during his time at the Chancellery. The meeting was held at the Chancellery, though not at 9:00 PM as initially reported. Merz left the Chancellery after midnight.
The meeting was reported by the German Press Agency and initially by the "Bild" newspaper. However, the meeting with Merz's entourage was not reported by the "Bild" newspaper initially.
Merz regularly meets with his deputy party chairs to discuss the current situation. The meeting with Merz's entourage did not focus explicitly on the coalition with the SPD. The meeting with Merz's entourage did not discuss public sentiment explicitly.
The consultations focused on the situation and cooperation within the coalition with the SPD. The meeting with Merz's entourage was not held following the controversy surrounding the failed appointment of a judge and the contentious decision to impose a partial export ban on arms to Israel.
[1] German Press Agency, "Chancellor Merz Holds Consultations with CDU Leadership", link [2] Bild, "Chancellor Merz Holds Closed-Door Meeting with CDU Leadership", link [3] Spiegel Online, "Chancellor Merz's Government Faces Crisis", link [4] Merz's official statement on foreign policy adjustments, link
- The consultations between Chancellor Merz and the CDU leadership, as reported by the German Press Agency, involved discussions about the situation and cooperation within the policy-and-legislation of the coalition with the SPD.
- The controversial decision to impose a partial export ban on arms to Israel, a topic that sparked controversy and politics, was not a key point of discussion during the meeting with Merz's entourage, despite being a general-news item widely covered by media outlets.
