Markus Söder, the head of the CSU, praised Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his foreign‑policy conduct at the CDU federal party conference in Stuttgart. Söder described Merz as “our trump card against Trump” adding that the new chancellor brings Europe fresh hope and strength. He highlighted Merz’s leadership abilities and stressed that Germany needs a “compass” during uncertain times.
Söder also criticized the previous foreign‑policy direction of the current government, calling the traffic‑light coalition’s approach too instructive and moralistic. He urged a stronger advocacy for European and German interests and took aim at the political left, labeling them “anti‑American”. He accused them of hypocritical double standards, pointing out that while they now protest U.S. tariffs, they had previously hampered the controversial TTIP free‑trade agreement with the United States.
The CSU chief praised the close cooperation with its sister party and commended the unity within the Union. Looking ahead to the March state elections in Rhineland‑Palatinate and Baden‑Württemberg, he called for a reset, criticizing the existing coalitions. He said the “entire traffic‑light nonsense” in Rhineland‑Palatinate must end and that in Baden‑Württemberg the CDU should again be positioned ahead of the Greens, describing this as the “normal order of things”.
