BERLIN, October 25, 2026 — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for unity in his struggling coalition on Saturday, October 24, telling a conference of the Christian Social Union (CSU) in Bavaria that Germany faced "extraordinarily serious challenges" from political extremists at home and what he described as daily Russian efforts to destabilise the country.
Illustration: A political conference hall with a speaker addressing delegates. This is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of the event.
What Happened
Speaking at a conference of the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of his conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), Merz asked how Germany could safeguard its freedom and security in Europe, according to Reuters. "How do we safeguard our freedom and our security in Europe, in the face of growing threats from extremists within and foreign powers from without?" he said, adding that Russia was seeking "to destabilise Germany on a daily basis."
Merz entered the conference hall to a Bavarian brass band playing "The Eye of the Tiger," Reuters reported, and praised CSU ministers in the government while paying tribute to CSU leader Markus Soeder. Delegates broke into loud applause when Merz mentioned Ilse Aigner, the CSU politician the party has proposed as successor to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is due to step down next year.
The CDU has so far stopped short of endorsing Aigner, Reuters reported, citing party sources who said it had not abandoned hopes of putting forward its own candidate for the largely ceremonial post of head of state. That unresolved question — which conservative figure should become Germany's next president — now sits alongside the coalition's policy disagreements as a visible test of unity between the two sister parties.
Illustration: German and European Union flags in front of a Berlin government building. This is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of the event.
Background
Merz's appeal for unity follows weeks of tension in the ruling coalition after heavy regional election defeats in eastern Germany, Reuters reported. In those elections, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came first in two states, while the far-left Left Party topped the poll in Berlin. Merz's approval ratings have fallen to record lows, and tensions have surfaced both between the coalition partners and between the CDU and CSU.
The CDU and CSU have a long history of disagreements but have generally managed to overcome them, Reuters noted. The two parties campaign as sister organisations — the CSU contests elections only in Bavaria, the CDU everywhere else in Germany — and govern together at federal level. That arrangement has survived many disputes, but it depends on a shared sense of direction, which the recent election results have strained.
Relations between Berlin and Moscow have fallen to their lowest level since the Cold War following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported. Russia rejects accusations that it is conducting a hybrid campaign against Germany and other European countries. Merz's warning about daily destabilisation efforts therefore lands in a broader European debate about how to respond to sabotage, disinformation and other forms of pressure that fall short of open warfare.
The presidency question adds a further layer. Germany's president is largely ceremonial, but the office carries moral authority, and the choice of candidate is a public signal about a party's direction. Steinmeier is due to step down next year, and the CSU's proposal of Aigner — greeted with applause at the conference — puts the CDU in the position of either backing a CSU candidate or presenting its own.
Why It Matters
Germany is Europe's largest economy and its most influential voice on the continent's security, energy and fiscal debates. A coalition that cannot hold together — or a chancellor whose authority is visibly ebbing — affects not only German domestic policy but also the European Union's ability to act on Ukraine, defence spending and economic reform. Merz's speech was therefore aimed at two audiences at once: his own party family, and Germany's European partners watching for signs of stability.
The rise of the AfD in eastern Germany and the Left Party's strength in Berlin point to a deeper fragmentation of German politics. Voters in different regions are increasingly backing parties outside the traditional centre, and the established parties are struggling to answer the cost-of-living, migration and security concerns driving that shift. Merz's framing — extremists within, foreign powers without — is an attempt to give his coalition a common cause that cuts across its internal disagreements.
The presidential succession matters for a different reason. The next president will represent Germany abroad and speak for the country in moments of crisis. A contested or messy selection process would deepen the impression of a conservative camp divided against itself, while a smooth agreement on a candidate could demonstrate exactly the unity Merz called for on Saturday.
Illustration: A presidential palace in Berlin with flags flying. This is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of the event.
What Happens Next
In the coming weeks, attention will turn to whether the CDU formally endorses Aigner or advances its own candidate for the presidency, and whether the coalition partners can agree on a shared programme that steadies Merz's standing. Regional election results will continue to be read as a verdict on the government, and any further gains by the AfD or the Left Party will increase pressure on the centre parties to show results.
On security, Merz's warning about Russian destabilisation sets up further debate about how Germany protects its infrastructure, elections and public debate from hybrid threats — a debate in which the government will be judged by actions as much as by speeches. For now, the CSU conference gave Merz a stage and an applauding audience. Whether that applause translates into lasting unity inside the coalition is the question his government must answer next.
Sponsored: explore today's featured sponsored offers
FAQ
Who is Friedrich Merz?
Friedrich Merz is Germany's Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), governing in coalition with its Bavarian sister party, the CSU.
What did Merz say at the CSU conference?
On October 24, 2026, he called for unity in his coalition, saying Germany faced "extraordinarily serious challenges" from extremists at home and daily Russian efforts to destabilise the country, according to Reuters.
Why is the coalition under strain?
Weeks of tension followed heavy regional election defeats in eastern Germany, where the AfD came first in two states and the Left Party topped the poll in Berlin, while Merz's approval ratings have fallen to record lows.
Who is Ilse Aigner, and why was she mentioned?
Ilse Aigner is the CSU politician the party has proposed as successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who steps down next year; delegates applauded when Merz mentioned her, but the CDU has not yet endorsed her.
What is Germany's president's role?
The post is largely ceremonial, but the president carries moral authority and represents Germany at home and abroad, making the choice of successor a significant political signal.
Sources
- Reuters, "Merz calls for unity as he warns of threats facing Germany," October 24, 2026.
- Reuters reporting on German coalition tensions, regional election results and the presidential succession, October 24, 2026.
Comments
Post a Comment