State premiers from the Christian Democratic Union may be tempted to claim credit for Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz adopting a more restrained tone. The Tagesspiegel columnist argues, however, that political necessity — rather than pressure from the state leaders — is driving the change. In a recent statement widely viewed as support for Merz, the premiers also set limits for him. They did so without naming him, the author suggests, to let him save face, at least for now.
The columnist points to the statement’s warning that political Germany needs stability more than ever. In the author’s reading, that wording implicitly acknowledges that stability is currently lacking. The premiers demand unity, energy and a clear direction for the Christian Democrats, as well as attentive listening and dependable action from Merz. The statement therefore reads less like encouragement than a list of shortcomings — or a job specification for a chancellor who need not necessarily be Merz.
The piece asks whether the state leaders intend to wait for the five state elections due next year, while warning that the situation could deteriorate further. It cites North Rhine-Westphalia, where the column puts the CDU at 29 percent and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 22 percent. It also refers to federal budget figures and opinion polls, arguing that Merz remains trapped in a political hole of his own making and has lost credibility.
The columnist notes that state premiers have historically had a significant voice in CDU decisions about who should become chancellor. The piece rejects the idea that Merz cannot be replaced and criticizes the premiers’ hesitation as undignified and, in a sense, irresponsible. This is an opinion article, not a report of a decision: its conclusion is that the state leaders should jointly accept responsibility for the country’s political direction.