German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for closer coordination between Germany’s conservative sister parties while warning that the country faced pressure from extremists and foreign powers at the close of the CSU conference in Munich on Oct. 24.
The Christian Social Union (CSU), Bavaria’s conservative party, held the two-day meeting. Merz urged it to coordinate more closely with its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), BR24 reported. The outlet said he warned of pressure from both far-left and far-right groups. About 700 delegates attended, Tagesschau and t-online reported.
Merz also accused Moscow of seeking to destabilize Germany, BR24 reported. Anadolu Ajansı reported that he portrayed Russia as a major threat to Europe. Reuters reported that Russia rejects accusations of conducting a hybrid campaign against Germany and other European countries.
Merz argued that Germany needed economic changes to protect social stability, derStandard reported. Reuters said he pressed for faster revisions to pension, tax and welfare policy, connecting them with economic recovery and renewed confidence in public institutions.
In a transcript of an Oct. 21 speech published by Germany’s Federal Government, Merz said Russia’s war in Ukraine put the continent’s freedom and security at risk. He identified sabotage, cyberattacks, drone activity and disinformation as hazards that could weaken security and prosperity while deepening social divisions.
