The General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Carsten Linnemann, has circulated a letter to the party’s 365,000 members offering a self-critical assessment of the first 100 days of the current grand coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
According to reports in “Bild”, Linnemann acknowledges a less-than-satisfactory public mood. “This summer I have given much thought to the current state of feeling in our country. We must be honest: the mood is currently not as good as we had hoped” he writes, identifying shortcomings in recent policy decisions. He specifically cites issues surrounding electricity taxes and the appointment of Federal Constitutional Court judges, stating that coordination between the party, parliamentary faction and government has been lacking.
Linnemann recognizes the frustration caused by these errors but urges the party to avoid paralysis. “Neither has Germany slipped into a state crisis, nor has our party lost its compass” he asserts. He calls for increased momentum within the coalition, emphasizing that policies should serve the interests of the entire country, not just the political establishment. “Now is not the time to apply the brakes. We need to move forward with greater urgency. The engine is running, but now we must engage the turbo.
Linnemann advocates for a “repeal offensive” targeting redundant legislation. He highlights a new initiative in Hesse where the local tax office now handles citizens’ tax returns as a positive example of streamlining bureaucracy, suggesting it is even more user-friendly than previously proposed simplified tax return concepts. He calls for a “just get it done” mentality to be adopted nationwide.
The letter also commends Chancellor Merz’s performance in foreign policy. Linnemann claims that Merz has successfully restored Germany’s presence on both the European and international stages in a remarkably short timeframe. “Normally, such a process takes years. Friedrich Merz has achieved this in under 100 days”.
