Friedrich Merz, the candidate for Chancellor of the Union parties, is clearly stepping back from a possible cooperation with the Greens after the federal election in February. “Markus Söder and I are completely in agreement that we must carry out a fundamental policy change so that Germany can move forward again. We will implement this change immediately in government” Merz said to the “World” (Tuesday edition).
“A continuation of the economic policy of the broken Ampel coalition, the green economic policy, and that of the current Federal Minister of Economics will not happen under any circumstances with us” he said.
Merz also highlighted the cohesion of the Union parties on this point: “CDU and CSU are in complete agreement on all policy issues, unlike in the 2021 federal election campaign. It’s rare in the past decades to have such a great agreement between the two Union parties as we do now” said the CDU leader.
Söder had repeatedly categorically ruled out coalitions with the Greens, most recently after the Christmas holidays. Merz had not entirely committed to this.
Regarding Söder’s advances, Merz said: “Why should I get annoyed if Markus Söder expresses his opinions on coalition issues? As the CSU chairman and Bavarian Prime Minister, he is naturally part of the Union’s opinion-forming process in federal politics. The decisive thing is that we will lead and win this election campaign together.” The decision on the possible constellations of a government formation after the federal election will be made first and foremost by the voters on February 23, said the CDU leader.