Merkel sidesteps German conservatives’ election losses as pressure mounts on Merz
Merz has called the latest defeats a “disaster” and pledged to overhaul the CDU’s platform.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel refrained from discussing her party's recent election setbacks on Monday, instead emphasizing the need for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to return to its broad-based identity. Merz, the current CDU leader, is facing intense pressure following their poor performance in the recent elections. Merkel did not directly address the elections or Merz, instead referencing Konrad Adenauer on the day, suggesting reflection on his legacy.
Merkel spoke at the opening of a Bundestag exhibition on Adenauer and Willy Brandt, then joined Bundestag President Julia Klöckner for a discussion on Adenauer, democracy, and politics. Adenauer, West Germany's first postwar chancellor and CDU's first leader, played a pivotal role in shaping the party as a Christian movement. The CDU's election results were disastrous, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) winning 43.8 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt and 38 percent in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Merz described the defeats as a "disaster" and pledged to overhaul the CDU's platform and image. However, a recent ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll revealed that only 13 percent of voters are satisfied with Merz's performance, a historically low rating. Merkel then addressed the need for politicians to reconnect with voters, emphasizing that messages should reflect their thinking, doubts, and considerations.
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