Key facts
- Eight state premiers from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats issued a joint statement backing him.
- The statement aims to quell speculation about Merz stepping down early after recent election defeats.
- The premiers emphasized the need for stability in Germany's political landscape.
- They stated that restoring public trust requires listening and political action, not debates over personnel.
- Merz's conservatives have called a special meeting for Sunday to demonstrate unity.
- Markus Soeder, premier of Bavaria and head of the CSU, also backed Merz.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has received backing from eight state premiers from his Christian Democrats party in a joint statement released Wednesday. The move is intended to stabilize his leadership following significant election defeats and quell speculation about his potential early resignation.
The premiers emphasized the need for political stability in Germany, particularly with several key elections scheduled in neighboring European countries next year. They asserted that regaining public trust hinges on responsive political action rather than internal debates over leadership.
Merz's party is set to hold a special meeting on Sunday to coordinate their response to the recent election results in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin and to project party unity. Markus Soeder, the premier of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Democrats' sister party, the CSU, has also publicly supported Merz.