Poor mood in the coalition, poll numbers in freefall: just over a year after his election as Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU) has expressed dissatisfaction with cooperation in the coalition and warned the SPD against further conflicts. The Union's imprint is not yet sufficiently clear in the government, Merz said on Sunday on the ARD program "Caren Miosga." From this, the Chancellor derived a demand to the SPD: They must show more willingness to compromise.
According to Merz, the mood in his party is deteriorating, which could burden government work: There is "a growing displeasure within the Union about compromises" that had to be made with the SPD. And doubts are growing "about the coalition, also about the SPD," the Chancellor said. He directed an appeal to SPD chairs Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil: "I tell both party chairs: Don't underestimate the mood in the Union, it's getting unfriendlier."
"I have been very patient so far, also in dealing with the SPD," the Chancellor said. "The SPD must also know, however: Compromises are not a one-way street." He shares the assessment that "the Union has not yet succeeded well enough" in giving the government its imprint. This is not acceptable: "In this coalition, the Union must be present."
Merz defended making compromises in the coalition. However, the CDU must not give up itself in the process. As party leader he has "a large scope of action," Merz said. "But I have no mandate to kill the CDU. The party has not allowed me that. And I don't intend to do that either."
Merz rejected the SPD's demand for greater taxation of higher incomes. Federal Finance Minister Klingbeil must "know that this won't work with the CDU/CSU, not with me either." The middle class is already very heavily taxed, "so I won't discuss any further tightening with the SPD."
The Chancellor and CDU leader made it clear that despite the difficulties in the black-red coalition, he is not seeking a different majority in the Bundestag and no toleration by the AfD: "That is out of the question with me," Merz said. He linked this commitment with a warning to the coalition partner: "But the SPD should not be tempted by this to think they can do whatever they want with us."
On the ARD program, Merz distanced himself from the sharp criticism that SPD top politicians had expressed at May 1 rallies about plans to cut back the welfare state. SPD co-chair Bas, for example, had said she considered the criticism of the extent of the welfare state to be "cynical and contemptuous of human dignity."
"That is a choice of words I don't share," Merz made clear. "Therefore, I also appeal to everyone to remain somewhat moderate in language now," he added. From SPD chairs Bas and Klingbeil, he expects that after the Labor Day rallies they "now also return to work in the cabinet, emotionally too," the Chancellor said.
Merz assessed his government's overall performance self-critically. "A country does not come to rest when people have the feeling that there is no calm and no consistency in the government's work," he said. "And we're still having difficulty with that, even though we've already accomplished a lot." The coalition must present its decisions together instead of explaining to the public "with a pained expression: That was all that was possible."
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