Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) reportedly intends to continue giving Jens Spahn (CDU), who recently stepped down as faction leader, a role within the party. According to participants who were present at the special faction meeting on Wednesday, Merz said he would call Spahn that evening to assure him that he would not be abandoned. Spahn himself was not in attendance at the meeting.
Participants also noted that the faction session featured extensive statements from Söder, followed by an open discussion covering all topics. Merz himself addressed the fraktion for 15 minutes and apologized after his personnel policies had been heavily criticized in recent days.
Beyond the CSD attack, the AfD remained a recurring topic of discussion. While participants indicated there was not intense criticism from the deputies during the session, there was a general desire to discuss a wide range of issues.
