Merz faces Union criticism Tagesschau reports backing

Sep 22

Tagesschau reports that Friedrich Merz sought the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s backing after three state-election defeats, having canceled his U.S. trip because he said he was needed in Berlin. It recalls his pledge to remain chancellor and CDU leader and pursue the agreed reforms. Thorsten Frei calls for addressing policy gaps behind support for the AfD and the Left; Alexander Hoffmann argues that reform burdens must be distributed fairly, including within government. After a nearly three-hour meeting, Mathias Middelberg says criticism was frank but the group still backed Merz. In a later correspondent exchange, Markus Preiß says Merz accepted harsh criticism and shared responsibility, while Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger urged lawmakers to focus on practical next steps. The report supplies no exact cancellation date and distinguishes parliamentary support from resolution of the party’s electoral problems.

AUF1's September 22 report previews Merz's Tuesday-afternoon CDU/CSU group meeting and says no open replacement debate had emerged at its deadline. Its account covers the reform pledge and CDU reactions before the meeting. Friedrich Merz met the CDU/CSU Bundestag group on September 22 after three CDU state-election defeats and poor polling. Thorsten Frei urged the party to address substantive gaps rather than dismiss AfD and Die Linke support as protest; Alexander Hoffmann called for reforms to distribute burdens fairly, including within government. After nearly three hours, Mathias Middelberg said criticism had been frank but the group backed the chancellor. Markus Preiß reported that Merz accepted sharp criticism and shared responsibility, while Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger urged colleagues to concentrate on practical next steps. Merz and the group leadership continued to support the reform course.