The historically bad election results for CDU and SPD in the state election in Thuringia are according to ex-Union faction leader Friedrich Merz "a big vote of no confidence" against the grand coalition in Berlin. He had seen at many local events that there is really great displeasure about CDU and SPD, he said on ZDF. Chancellor Angela Merkel is predominantly at the center of the criticism that lacks "political leadership and clear statements".
An example is the months-long, fruitless discussion about the basic pension. Merkel's "inactivity and lack of leadership" has been hanging over the land like a fog over the years, Merz said. "This is the main point of criticism that I perceive, and that I share, that can not go on, and I simply can not imagine that this kind of governance in Germany will take another two years," Merz said. That could not afford Germany, but also Europe. The entire appearance of the federal government was simply "bad grotten".
More about the state election in Thuringia
Merz, however, did not criticize CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer for saying she had not played such a negative role in his opinion. He also promised her his support. "I stand by that and that's what I stand for in difficult times."
With regard to the formation of a government in Thuringia, he said that it was a matter of course that CDU in Thuringia accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (The Left) there. "An entirely different question is whether it can be a kind of cooperation in any way, so I have big reservations." A coalition goes from his point of view "certainly not".
