The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has expressed this Monday his recognition to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) for its decision to continue in the coalition Executive, despite internal and external criticisms and recent setbacks in several regional elections.
"I am grateful after hearing this morning from the social democrats who intend to maintain the coalition in Berlin. We also maintain this," Merz stated, who has called to "face the historical challenges of our country." "It is nothing less than the democratic future of our country," he emphasized.
The conservative leader has admitted that federal politics has influenced the poor results harvested by the CDU in the last elections. "I know that the state elections (...) federal politics and I myself have had a fundamental weight," he suggested. However, he stressed that the causes of this setback "go beyond the personal," as he pointed out in a press conference broadcasted by the public network ARD.
In light of this scenario, Merz has called for "a great effort." "To be frank, we no longer have satisfactory answers to too many questions." "We have to change that and we are going to do it," he emphasized.
As an example of the pending challenges, he cited the difference in treatment between those with private health insurance, who receive almost immediate care, and patients in the public system, who must wait "weeks or months." "That is exactly a problem of justice. Something has to change," he suggested.
The SPD has supported the continuity of the cabinet headed by Merz, although it has made it clear that "we cannot continue as if nothing," in the words of the co-chair of the formation and Minister of Labor, Baerbel Bas. The other social democratic co-chair and Vice Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, has pointed out pension reform as one of the measures that are generating discontent.
The leader of the SPD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig, has established herself as one of the main critical voices against the coalition pact between CDU and SPD. Her position has gained strength after reaffirming her results in the elections on Sunday. Schwesig will continue at the head of the regional government, thus reinforcing her political weight in the federal sphere, although the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the most voted force.