Christian von Stetten, the head of the Parliamentary Group for Small and Medium Enterprises within the CDU parliamentary faction, has continued his criticism of the coalition arrangement. Speaking to “Stern”, he stated, “Unfortunately, the SPD is blocking everything and everywhere”. Despite this criticism of his coalition partner, however, von Stetten addressed the CDU’s internal leadership, affirming his full support for the Federal Chancellor and CDU party chairman, Friedrich Merz. He believes Merz is the right man for the federal chancellery, citing his ability to guide necessary reforms for the country.
His skepticism regarding the coalition’s stability was evident when, during an event in his constituency on Monday, he questioned whether the governing alliance could withstand the test of time. When directly asked about the coalition’s durability, his reply was unmistakable: “Well, definitely not for four years”. He concluded that the parties do not align, as they possess entirely different concepts.
Von Stetten’s critical tone is echoed across the wider CDU faction. According to “Stern”, the parliamentary group participated in a virtual session on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the cabinet’s decisions concerning the healthcare reform and the budget. A significant number of members spoke out, making criticisms that the news magazine described as “brutal”. For instance, CSU member Alexander Engelhard reportedly stated that he did not want to be “whipped in the constituency any longer” regarding these disputed decisions.