Following one hundred days in office, Chancellor Friedrich Merz appears to be receiving consistent support from within the senior ranks of his party. Helge Benda, interim federal chairman of the Senioren-Union (Senior Citizens’ Union), emphasized the need for measured progress, stating, “Especially we seniors know that major changes take time – and careful consideration is better than hasty decisions.
Benda acknowledged the complexities inherent in the early stages of a new administration, highlighting a perception of proactive engagement with existing challenges. He characterized internal coalition disagreements as a natural component of democratic process, not indicative of inaction. “We welcome the Chancellor’s unwillingness to yield to every quick compromise, but rather his striving for sustainable solutions. Politics is not a sprint, but a marathon.
The Senioren-Union leader cautioned against premature assessments of the government’s performance, asserting that long-term impacts should be prioritized over initial headlines. He echoed this sentiment, advocating for patience amongst the citizenry.
The Senioren-Union functions as an official affiliated organization of the CDU, with its chairman automatically holding a position on the party’s federal executive committee. Membership is open to individuals aged 60 and above – a demographic that currently includes the 69-year-old Chancellor himself.