According to Thorsten Frei, the CDU parliamentary group leader, Chancellor Merz can count on the full support of his parliamentary faction. When asked if the faction stands unequivocally behind the Chancellor, Frei told the journalists of RTL and ntv: “Yes, that is the case, and we are fully aware that we must tackle these challenges in the coalition and alongside the SPD together.” He stressed that ultimately, how successful they are will depend on this collaboration.
The CDU politician also affirmed that Merz’s position as both Federal Chancellor and CDU party leader will be secure even after the state elections next week. “I am sure that it will be exactly the same,” he stated, noting that Merz was elected to the Chancellorship for four years.
Frei defended the Chancellor’s cancelled trip to the UN General Assembly next week. He explained that it is appropriate for Merz to be based domestically, tackling issues firsthand. Furthermore, Frei refuted the suggestion that Merz remained in Germany primarily to fight for his chancellorship. He argued that there are numerous pressing domestic issues requiring immediate action, including matters related to health, care, pensions, and the budget. “These are all topics that we must work on now, and we cannot afford to lose time,” he emphasized.
However, Frei did not dismiss the possibility that polling and election results might affect the functioning of the CDU. Nevertheless, he argued that progress on policy matters is paramount. According to Frei, “Germany is not suffering from having too much, but from having too few reforms.”
