Berlin, Germany – Following the gains of the borough council election in Hamburg, CDU’s top candidate Dennis Thering criticized the Greens and advocated for a red-black coalition. According to him, the election results show that the Hamburg residents wanted a “change of direction.” “We as CDU are ready” he said, addressing the SPD.
CDU’s leader Friedrich Merz congratulated Thering on the result and also promoted a red-black coalition in Hamburg. On a federal level, he stated that no agreement has been reached with the SPD yet, but pointed to the “urgency” of investments in the German military in light of the recent events in Washington.
“We are in very good, constructive talks and I hope we can achieve a solution soon” Merz said about the exchange with the SPD. He expressed “sympathy” for the proposals of Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), who has introduced a “Swedish model” for the restructuring of the German military.
Regarding the Trump incident, the Christian Democrat said it was not a coincidence, but a “deliberately escalated escalation” by US President Donald Trump against his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.