Friedrich Merz's economic plan, aiming to cross-finance stimulus measures through welfare budget cuts, has received a muted response. Polls show the CDU stagnating, with internal criticisms highlighting a lack of trust and concrete plans. Merz faces challenges from the far-right AfD's growing popularity and pressure from the CSU to rule out a coalition with the Greens.
German opposition leader’s hopes of becoming chancellor hang in the balance as economic plan fails to convinceTo cross-finance the stimulus measures, the CDU promises significant cuts to Germany’s €50 billion welfare budget, including benefits cuts to those who refuse job offers.’s unpopular centre-liberal “traffic light” coalition in November, the Merz plan was given a muted response on Friday even from his own party members.
Despite leading in polls, Germany’s snap election has robbed Merz of a crucial six months to position himself as chancellor-in-waiting. To jump-start that process, he visited the grave of the CDU’s first leader, Konrad Adenauer, this week and delivered a keynote address in the fabled Petersberg government guest house above the Rhine, near Bonn.
Another challenge it faces is the surge of the far-right Alternative for Germany to second place in polls, in one just nine points behind the CDU.Elon Musk watches as US president-elect Donald Trump addresses House Republicans in Washington. Photograph: Eric Lee/The New York Times “In my opinion, this is another very dangerous populist statement,” said Matthias Miersch, SPD general secretary. “Citizenship is something you can’t play with.”Germany’s outgoing ruling party has an uphill battle ahead. It lies in third place in the polls with 14-16 per cent support – half that of the CDU/CSU and some 10 points behind its 2021 winning result.
Despite the short election campaign, a host of variables and unknowns make it difficult to predict the outcome. The fate of the liberal Free Democratic Party remains unclear, while the populist vote could be split between the AfD and the new left-conservative BSW alliance.
GERMAN POLITICS CDU ECONOMIC PLAN FRIEDRICH MERZ ELECTION AFD CSU SPD
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