German politicians debate Merz government stability amid poor polling and internal tensions

Sandra Maischberger spoke with CDU parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei and Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour of the Greens about the rightward shift, pressure for reforms, and the question: What is the Chancellor doing about high fuel prices and low approval ratings?

CDU Minister-Presidents Back Merz — But With Notable Omissions

Eight CDU minister-presidents publicly backed Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a joint letter — yet this very support highlights how badly things are going within the party. The letter causes irritation within the Union parties because the name "Merz" is missing from the text, and notably CSU leader Söder has not signed it.

Maischberger pressed Frei: "How badly is the house on fire?" when all eight CDU minister-presidents explicitly state they want to continue working "together with the Federal Chancellor," without naming him.

"I find it a bit hair-splitting to say that the name is missing for the Federal Chancellor," Frei responded, elaborating: "There is only one Federal Chancellor, his name is Friedrich Merz, and he is the addressee of this letter."

Maischberger did not let up: "But the question is, how badly is the house on fire that you have to do this?"

Frei acknowledged the difficult situation: Poor polling numbers and election results currently characterize the party and parliamentary group, leading to "difficult discussions."

"I cannot recall a time when minister-presidents had to jump to the aid of their party leader and chancellor," Maischberger pressed. At the same time, she pointed out that the CDU/CSU Bundestag parliamentary group itself has not yet demonstrated comparable support for Merz.

"We are in a situation where that is not necessary," said Frei, responding to Maischberger's renewed sharpening of the issue by relativizing the crisis question. He shifted the focus from the personnel issue to substantive policy: The Union parties are discussing concrete policy issues and want to make progress on reforms. The pressure for reform is "as great as rarely before."

Where Is the Pain Threshold?

Maischberger asked whether, if the state elections — especially in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — go "catastrophically" wrong, Chancellor Friedrich Merz would stay and there would be no revolt from his party.

"Well, first of all, I am not prepared to answer such hypothetical questions just days before the state election, because we are naturally fighting for [a good result]," Frei said, while Maischberger persisted and defended journalists: "It is not us who start these discussions. The deputy state chairman of the CDU in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern says Merz must go."

Where is the pain threshold at which the whole operation really collapses on you?

Frei gave no concrete answer. While he expressly reaffirmed his conviction that Merz will remain Chancellor, he subsequently shifted the discussion again from the personnel issue to substantive political work and the necessary course of reform.

Nouripour: "The Country Cannot Afford for No Government to Last Four Years"

Omid Nouripour of the Greens became more specific: "This is a coalition that does not have its people completely under control, and that is a huge problem."

The Green politician confirmed that they had exactly the same situation in the traffic-light coalition: "Kubicki publicly demanded Habeck's resignation. That helped nobody."

Nouripour stressed that the government must "pull itself together," adding: "The country cannot afford for no government to last four years."