CDU leader Friedrich Merz has warned against speculation about the K question in the Union or future coalitions. “The renewal of the content of the CDU is progressing well,” he told the German Press Agency in Berlin. “Those are the crucial tasks we have today. Not speculation about coalitions or even personnel debates.”
When asked whether a new grand coalition with the SPD would be good for the country after a possible success of the Union in the 2025 federal election, Merz was evasive. “We will answer the question about coalition partners after the 2025 federal election, but not before.” He added: “We only work on the issues that are on the desk today.”
eyes straight ahead
“To be honest, we are not concerned about coalitions at the moment. It is now a matter of formulating the CDU purely,” said Merz, who is also chairman of the Union faction in the Bundestag. The CDU wants to exploit its voter potential. “That’s only possible if we don’t look left or right, but look straight ahead and clarify our own positions. We’re on the right track there.”
Group and party would work “enormously diligently”, praised Merz. Position papers on most of the major political issues of the time were introduced to the Bundestag. “When it comes to internal security, the economy or the family, the CDU clearly delivers the better ideas that will advance our country.” A new basic program is being developed in the party.
On the question of the Union’s chancellor candidacy, Merz emphasized that he and CSU leader Markus Söder had agreed that a joint proposal would be made in late summer 2024. When asked whether the issue should be clarified before or after the state elections in autumn 2024, Merz said: “We will discuss this calmly, when and how we will do it exactly. The period is limited: late summer 2024.” A new state parliament will be elected in Thuringia and Saxony on September 1st next year, and in Brandenburg on September 22nd. In Thuringia in particular, the formation of a government is expected to be difficult after high poll numbers for the AfD.
