CDU Minister-Presidents Line Up Behind Chancellor Merz

Backing from the States

CDU chairman Merz, who is also federal chancellor, had recently had to defend himself repeatedly against criticism from within his own ranks and from the opposition. With the declaration by the minister-presidents, he is now receiving backing from the state associations, which form governments in large-area states such as North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony.

The signal is also being noted beyond state borders. From the CSU, the CDU's sister party, it was said that they were watching the development closely. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder, who is regarded within the party as a prominent critic of individual federal-policy initiatives, has so far not commented publicly on the declaration.

In terms of content, the minister-presidents do not name any specific contentious issues. Instead, they emphasise the shared responsibility of the federal government and the states for economic stability, internal security and energy policy. In doing so, they tie in with the agreements reached at the most recent Conference of Minister-Presidents.

Policy Priorities

Observers interpret the declaration as a unified showing by the CDU-led states. It is intended to dispel the impression that the Union is acting in isolation in federal politics, according to government circles. At the same time, several minister-presidents are demanding greater involvement in decisions that directly affect the states.

Merz himself had repeatedly stressed in recent weeks that he was ready for a constructive dialogue with the minister-presidents. The declaration now on the table meets this offer without the states formulating any concrete demands addressed to the chancellor.

It remains unclear how the CDU minister-presidents will behave if individual government bills fail in the Bundestag. In that case, parliamentary party discipline continues to be regarded as a decisive factor. However, internal party critics from the state associations are demanding that the minister-presidents then show their colours more clearly than before.

Open Questions and Outlook

Politically, the declaration carries symbolic weight. It comes at a stage in which the federal government's approval ratings are fluctuating in polls and pressure on the governing parliamentary groups is mounting. With the text, the minister-presidents emphasise their aspiration to act as intermediaries between federal politics and the citizens.

In the coming weeks, further votes are expected in the Bundestag in which the Union will depend on a unified mood within its own ranks. The minister-presidents' declaration is therefore seen as a signal intended to underscore the government's ability to act.