Merz addresses Bavarian conservatives amid doubts over his government

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a call for unity on Saturday in a speech closing the two-day party conference of the Bavarian conservatives.

Germany's conservative bloc is made up of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which Merz leads, and its Bavaria-only sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

He told the 700 delegates in the Munich exhibition hall that, together, they might remain the strongest political force in Germany, but added, "No one has an exclusive claim to the chancellorship." 

The CDU and CSU, he said, must stand together more closely than ever now to ensure the country is not left to extremist forces.

Extremists - on both the left and the right - would always find a bitter adversary within conservative bloc, the chancellor emphasized. It must therefore be clear to everyone that cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) - which currently has a lead over the CDU/CSU in opinion polls - is out of the question, Merz said: "Anyone who thinks they can give these people their vote has no place in our [conservative] union."

Government reform package

Merz once again insisted that the coalition government's reform package, which had already been set in motion in July, be implemented swiftly. "We, [the CDU/CSU], will be judged on whether we have succeeded in putting these reforms into practice." 

He said that he expects his coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), to ensure that the reforms are now implemented swiftly.

He also reaffirmed the goal of reducing energy costs in Germany for all consumers in the coming year. "If at all possible - and I think it is - the electricity tax must be cut so that people have more money in their pockets again," said Merz.

CSU candidate for president

Merz ducked the issue of who should succeed current German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose term of office ends next year. 

The CSU backs the Bavarian state parliamentary president, Ilse Aigner, but Merz has so far avoided giving her his endorsement, and did not mention the issue during his speech.  

Many in the CSU see Merz's government work in Berlin as unsuccessful, and they fear being dragged into the downward spiral of their sister party at the national level.

However, Merz was warmly welcomed by the delegates and, following his speech, was celebrated with a standing ovation lasting almost four minutes. The applause was almost as long as that for CSU leader Markus Söder the previous day.