Stuttgart/Berlin – It is the first CDU party conference in five years at which the CDU once again provides the chancellor: For more than an hour, CDU leader and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz sketched out the guidelines of his policy. He explained, motivated, thundered – and occasionally launched an attack on political opponents.
Merz’s core message: Germany should line up in “top form” under his chancellorship. This requires many reforms. “I don’t just want to moderate. I want to drive things forward, I want to motivate us to peak performance! Germany has to line up in top form, otherwise we won’t achieve what we have to accomplish,” said Merz.
Merz: Doesn’t Consider Germans Lazy
The chancellor made it clear: “Hard work is done in Germany. We are a country of achievers and doers.” He is often accused of thinking the Germans are lazy. “That is a malicious allegation,” Merz thundered. However, it is true that “our performance is being curtailed by a corset of bureaucracy.” This has to change, according to Merz. There are too many regulations and laws that paralyze the economy.
Schwarz-Rot (the governing coalition) must also reform the welfare state. “A modern welfare state creates more incentives and fewer prohibitions,” Merz said, addressing the SPD: “Together we have the task of getting things in order in Germany.” Reforms must progress in the coming weeks.
Acceptance of XXL Debt Was “A Heavy Burden”
The chancellor also spoke about his most difficult decision to date: the acceptance of XXL debt (up to 1000 billion euros) at the beginning of his term in office. “I am very well aware that opening up to new debt was a heavy burden,” said Merz: “This decision was perhaps the most difficult I had to make in the last twelve months. It was the right one for Germany.”
Merz now sees his nickname “foreign minister” as a compliment, he said. Germany can only be strong if it is recognized and well-connected internationally. That is also why he had traveled abroad a lot at the beginning of his term in office.
Merz sharply attacked the Greens and the AfD. They had jointly voted against the trade agreement with South America (Mercosur) in the European Parliament. An incredible development, according to Merz.
Merkel Wears Green…
The chancellor spoke in the presence of his predecessor and rival Angela Merkel. Both had greeted each other cordially at the beginning of the party conference, even joking a little. During Merz’s speech, Merkel listened attentively, occasionally looking somewhat skeptical.
Merkel had apparently deliberately chosen a green blazer and a black-green necklace: a hidden message to voters in Baden-Württemberg, where a new state parliament will be elected in two weeks…
