The General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Carsten Linnemann, has circulated a letter to the party’s 365,000 members offering a self-critical assessment of the first 100 days of the current governing coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
According to reports in “Bild”, Linnemann acknowledges a challenging national mood. “This summer I’ve reflected a great deal on the current sentiment in our country. We must be honest: the mood is currently not as good as we would have liked” he writes, identifying areas where the coalition has fallen short. He specifically cites disagreements over electricity tax policies and the selection of Federal Constitutional Court judges as examples of internal coordination issues between the party, parliamentary group and government.
Linnemann concedes the frustration surrounding these missteps is understandable but cautions against allowing it to impede progress. He dismisses suggestions of a national crisis or a loss of direction for the CDU. Instead, he calls for increased momentum from the governing coalition. “We are not making policies for the government district, but for all of Germany. No one can afford to hold back now. The engine is running, but now we need to engage the turbo.
He advocates for a comprehensive “repeal offensive” targeting redundant laws and highlights a new initiative in the state of Hessen, where the local tax office is now directly processing citizens’ tax returns, describing it as even simpler than previously proposed streamlined filing methods. Linnemann emphasizes the need for a “just get it done” attitude across the country.
The letter also offers praise for Chancellor Merz’s foreign policy performance, noting his swift success in reasserting Germany’s presence on the European and international stage. “Normally, a process like this would take years. Friedrich Merz has achieved it in less than 100 days”.