Friedrich Merz urges CDU critics to step down amid party turmoil

At the CDU’s North‑Rhine Westphalia state party conference in Düsseldorf, party leader Friedrich Merz told internal opponents to “step aside”, labeling them “culture pessimists, doomsayers, whiners, and career critics”. He warned that the best years for Germany lie ahead if the party follows its course, and his remarks received applause from attending delegates while sparking backlash on social media, where users echoed the demand “Wegtreten!”.

Commentary on the same day highlighted a broader crisis within the CDU, suggesting the party is facing a loss of credibility. The analysis referenced other party figures, including Berlin mayor Kai Wegner, former health minister Jens Spahn, and Thuringia minister‑president Mario Voigt, portraying a pattern of internal conflict and allegations of mismanagement that threaten the party’s standing ahead of upcoming elections.