Overview
- At a parliamentary group meeting, Merz presented an ifo-based graphic of state consumption, private investment and GDP and warned that if the curves do not realign during this term "this government is failed," according to reports.
- He told his bloc he will now speak "plainly" to the SPD partner as tensions persist over the planned Bürgergeld reform and backlash to his earlier "Stadtbild" remark.
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said returns to Syria are only very limited, Merz publicly contradicted that view, and Wadephul later denied a rift and said the Foreign Office supports the chancellor's line.
- Within the CDU, the new Compass Mitte platform has called for a course correction and clearer distance from the AfD, including backing the initiation of a ban procedure.
- Polling cited by Forsa's chief shows 72 percent dissatisfied with Merz's leadership and argues his focus on migration overlooks economic worries that most respondents rank as the top problem.