Friedrich Merz Outlines CDU’s Position on Green Coalition and Defense Spending
At the CSU-Winterklausur, Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz emphasized the CDU’s distancing from the Greens while keeping coalition options open. He criticized the economic policies of the former ‘Ampelkoalition’ and called for significant reforms. Merz reinforced defense expenditure aligned with NATO’s requirements and distanced himself from former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s migration policies. There were slight differences within the CDU/CSU regarding parental pensions and military support for Ukraine, but overall unity was stressed as the party approaches the election campaign.