Urgent secret meeting held at Merz's CDU headquarters — without Merz

According to the outlet, tensions had already emerged at CDU headquarters, with several state premiers strongly opposing Merz’s push for tougher reforms, warning that public opposition must not be ignored.

The CDU leadership is meeting again today, followed by meetings of the federal executive committee and the parliamentary group, scheduled for tomorrow.

Officially, Merz has the support of his government and his party following the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin. Even before Sunday’s election debacle, CDU state premiers had expressed their support for the chancellor in an open letter, although they did not mention Merz by name even once. Nevertheless, the meeting has raised questions, German public broadcaster SWR reports.

“Such a meeting, apparently without the chancellor, on the evening when he suffered an electoral defeat is, of course, explosive. None of those present wanted to comment. However, they spoke for around two hours, even though they had already met with the chancellor at CDU headquarters. It appears that the state party leaders felt the need to talk among themselves, without the chancellor present,” the outlet’s correspondent, Eno Osburg, said.

Merz was completely unaware that these parallel talks were taking place.

Despite the internal revolt, Merz publicly struck a defiant tone, saying that he had no intention of resigning and would continue pursuing his course of leadership and reforms.