German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a lengthy meeting with his conservative bloc on Wednesday to promise a reset in how his government engages with lawmakers, following days of internal turmoil sparked by a poorly handled cabinet reshuffle. The episode has exposed growing frustration within the CDU/CSU alliance at a moment when Merz's personal approval ratings are weak, Germany's economy remains stagnant, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to lead national opinion polls ahead of several important regional elections.
Speaking after a closed-door session with CDU/CSU members of parliament that ran two hours past schedule, Merz said, "We must all reflect together on what we need to do better ... and how we can regain the trust of those who do not trust us today." He added that he was confident the meeting would help "generate new momentum, new dynamism and a renewed effort" to lead the country well.
At pains to signal humility, Merz, promised that "a key focus of my work will be ensuring good communication" among the government, MPs and the party. "We have agreed on this approach together." In remarks made separately in Berlin, the chancellor elaborated that this meant communication that explains more, conveys more effectively, and takes more time to reach those it is meant to inform.
Following the special session in which Thorsten Frei was elected as the new leader of the joint CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Merz characterized the internal discussion as good-natured, fair, and respectful. He noted that fifteen members of the faction had spoken up during the debate.
From that exchange, Merz said he took away a clear mandate: the bloc needs to better articulate its objectives and provide a stronger overarching narrative explaining why the government is pursuing its current changes and reforms. He added that this clarity needs to extend across the relationship between the government, the parliamentary faction, and both coalition parties, including the Social Democrats, as well as within the CDU/CSU itself. Merz said he took this request from his colleagues very seriously and intended to act on it.
The unrest within the conservative bloc traces back to the resignation of Jens Spahn, who had served as the CDU's parliamentary leader. Spahn stepped down earlier this month after revelations that he and his husband had used a surrogate mother in the United States to have a child, a practice that is illegal in Germany and one the CDU has strongly opposed.
His departure set off a chain of personnel changes that quickly became a source of controversy, partly because several of the decisions reportedly reached the media before the individuals directly affected had been personally informed. Complaints about what critics have described as Merz's high-handed leadership style intensified as a result.
Among the most visible flashpoints was the handling of Patrick Schnieder's removal as transport minister. News of Merz's intention to replace Schnieder leaked before any formal announcement, and the minister was left in an uncertain position for days after Merz's initial choice for the role withdrew from consideration.
When Schnieder eventually departed the ministry, staff there reportedly gave him an enthusiastic round of applause, a moment that at least one German newspaper characterized as an implicit rebuke directed at the chancellor.
Thorsten Frei's move from chief of staff to parliamentary group leader set off a further reshuffling of positions. Outgoing Health Minister Nina Warken is stepping into Frei's former role as Merz's chief of staff, while CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann is taking over the health portfolio from Warken. Steffen Bilger has been named the new transport minister.
All three received their formal nominations from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, though they will not be sworn in before parliament until after the summer recess.
The turbulence within the CDU/CSU has drawn open criticism from several senior figures. The head of the Bavarian CSU party, Markus Soeder, said recent days had been "admittedly turbulent" and that "there was certainly annoyance at one point or another". In Wednesday's meeting, some lawmakers expressed "frustration", the deputy leader of the parliamentary group, Guenter Krings, told Welt TV, adding that "there were, of course, critical comments".
In contrast to a corporation, "the CDU depends on volunteers, on elected lawmakers, you can't boss them around," Strohmann told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. A CDU state secretary in the health department, Tino Sorge, meanwhile has taken to Facebook to say that Merz had sacked him without bothering to speak to him first, saying this was "a question of (Merz's leadership) style".
Merz, who at 70 has often been viewed by parts of the public as disconnected from everyday concerns due to his background in business and his personal wealth, has faced criticism from within his own party echoing those same perceptions.
Commentary in the German press has increasingly questioned whether Merz can restore his authority within the CDU and whether he will be able to serve out his full term as chancellor. Stern magazine said Merz's recent behaviour was redolent of "not just an elephant in a china shop... but a mammoth".
As the CDU/CSU bloc moves past this period of upheaval, Merz's commitment to clearer and more consistent communication will be tested in the months ahead, particularly with a series of regional elections approaching and the AfD maintaining its lead in national polling.
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