Climate activists cut birthday cake for absent Merz at COP summit

German climate activists cut a slice of birthday cake on Wednesday for Chancellor Friedrich Merz - who has skipped the UN climate talks in the Turkish city of Antalya - in protest at his decision to stay home for a 71st birthday meal with his family. 

"Friedrich Merz has completely disappointed us with his decision not to show up here - and not only us, but the global community," said Fridays for Future activist Luisa Neubauer.

Merz would not be let off the hook, she stressed. "He decided, independently and with arrogance, to represent and govern our country. That has consequences, including on his own birthday."

The 11 activists sat at a table on the conference grounds, with balloons and a cake - "the Turkish equivalent of a Black Forest gâteau," they said, referring to the popular German chocolate and cherry cake.  

Neubauer said they were sending birthday greetings to Berlin, adding that all they could wish was a "Happy Birthday without a Happy Future." 

"We would also like to be able to celebrate our 71st someday, under stable planetary conditions," the activist said.

After cutting a slice of cake, she said: "That would have been for Friedrich Merz - too bad."

The chancellor has said that he plans to chair Wednesday's weekly Cabinet meeting on his birthday, then go for a "nice meal at the Italian [restaurant]" with his wife and daughter.

Last Wednesday, a government spokesman responded evasively on Merz's absence in Antalya, noting that there were always "different interests and different scheduling conflicts."