Merz and Evers after losses Reforms and coalition talks

Sep 21

ZDF carries the audible CDU press conference with Friedrich Merz and Stefan Evers after the Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elections. Merz says Daniel Peters remains in Schwerin dealing with the consequences of CDU failing to enter the state parliament; he attributes that defeat partly to competition between SPD and AfD. He accepts a federal and personal role in the results, says no one raised replacing him, and reports unanimous CDU-board support for continuing the coalition and reforms. He announces a review of the party's structure, programme and profile, closer work with state premiers and more attention to people's fears and perceived unfairness. Evers offers Berlin coalition talks with SPD and Greens, while acknowledging CDU's result fell short and arguing for empathy, practical solutions and responsibility in the political centre. The partners' choice remains open. Asked about Germany's international image, Merz condemns antisemitism, particularly in Berlin, calls for clear positions from SPD and Greens and pledges protection of Jewish life; his characterizations of political tendencies remain attributed. On housing, Evers rejects large-landlord socialization as economically harmful while acknowledging the referendum's concerns. Merz says initial expropriation-ban drafts have been coordinated between the justice and interior ministries and promises to advance legislation, without reporting enactment. In the final answer he disputes that retirement-age reform dominated campaign conversations and instead describes unequal medical access. He says equivalent effects of statutory-insurance decisions must also reach private insurance, as previously agreed but not yet implemented. He reports Laumann's concern about fairness in parallel health and care systems, acknowledges good reasons for both and promises discussions over changes, without announcing abolition. The initial broadcast audio gap is excluded; missing opening words are not reconstructed.

Merz identifies perceived unequal access to medical care for privately and statutorily insured people as a fairness problem. He says the coalition must implement its as-yet-unfulfilled agreement to apply equivalent effects of statutory-insurance decisions to private insurance. Reporting Laumann's concern about parallel health and care systems, he acknowledges good reasons for both and promises discussion of changes. No abolition of private insurance or agreed structural overhaul is announced. Maurer qualifies her explanation of the new emphasis. In his September 22 response, Weltwoche's Köppel interprets the remarks as a leftward, rhetorically abolitionist turn and argues against them; that interpretation remains distinct from the actual announcement.