US EditionDespite Headwinds, Germany's Merz Wins Strong Party Backing
Merz secured CDU leadership with 91% support at Stuttgart congress amid weak GDP growth and far-right electoral threats, pledging reform and party unity.
- At the Stuttgart congress, Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor and CDU leader, won a 91 percent endorsement from around 1,000 delegates on Friday.
- Facing mounting pressure from economic and political headwinds, Merz broke his no-new-debt campaign pledge to fund defence and infrastructure spending, calling it `I am well aware that this opening up of new debt was a tough pill to swallow for many, including here in this room`, Merz said.
- On Friday, Merz told delegates `Perhaps we didn't make it clear quickly enough after the change of government that we couldn't accomplish this enormous reform effort overnight` and `I accept this criticism`, while reiterating support for Ukraine with `We stand with the Ukrainian people without any ifs or buts`.
- The endorsement gives Merz a clearer mandate to press his agenda in the coalition with the Social Democrats , while Angela Merkel attended for the first time in years, greeting him with visible smiles.
- With weak growth and business pressure, the economic imperative looms as GDP growth forecast of one per cent this year and polls showing AfD strength raise electoral risks for the CDU.
24 Articles
24 Articles
The party congress of the CDU was a phenomenon: Rarely has the CDU struggled so intensely with each other in advance, rare were the wing fights so clear. At the party congress - much unity. That should help the chancellor. By Kerstin Palzer.
Despite Obstacles, Germany’s Merz Clinches Strong Party Backing
Despite facing significant internal challenges and a turbulent political landscape, Friedrich Merz has secured robust support within Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). His recent backing underscores the party’s consolidation around his leadership as it seeks to regain stability and reshape its future direction. According to reports from The Japan Times, Merz’s ability to navigate headwinds [...]
PHOENIX [Newsroom]Stuttgart/Bonn (ots) - Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for reforms of social security systems and a balance between generations on the margins of the CDU party congress in Stuttgart in the phoenix interview. "I will stick to my assessment, ... Continue reading here...Original content of: PHOENIX, transmitted by news aktuell
Söder bows to Merz on the CDU party day – the old chancellor's electoral association works. Only once the delegates become insidious.
Germany news: CDU party conference resumes in Stuttgart
CDU party conference resumes, with CSU leader Markus Söder due to attend Pro-EU demonstrations planned in several German and European cities The Berlin Film Festival wraps after an edition overshadowed by political controversy Read below for updates of the main headlines from Germany on Saturday, February 21: CDU resumes federal party conference The conservative Christian Democratic Union resumes on Saturday its federal party conference, after…
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- 40% of the sources are Center, 40% of the sources lean Right
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