The Union is lining up for the federal election, but Angela Merkel's era is coming to an end.
The Chancellor sees the country at a trend-setting point - also because of the pandemic.
Berlin (dpa) - Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) sees Germany facing profound upheavals in view of the consequences of the corona pandemic.
It is important that the CDU and CSU speak of a change of epoch in their joint program for the federal election in the first chapter, said Merkel on Monday, according to information from the German Press Agency from circles of participants at a joint retreat between the leaders of the CDU and CSU on the election program of the Union in Berlin.
"We are in a change of epoch." This is being driven by innovation and digitization.
Almost 100 days before the federal election, the leaders of the CDU and CSU want to decide on their joint program on Monday.
Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet (CDU) and CSU boss Markus Söder want to present the joint program to the public in the early afternoon.
According to the participants, Merkel said that one challenge after another had come for the country since 2007.
With the pandemic, the cards in the world would be reshuffled again.
The open democracies would have had a harder time dealing with Corona than the autocratic systems.
"We have more to catch up," Merkel was quoted as saying.
With the USA you can see "with what force they are now tackling it - also economically".
The Chinese gross domestic product has increased more than sixfold.
China is very successful despite an autocratic system.
Europe is not a leader in many areas: Not in quantum computers, computer chips or battery research.
This has to be addressed.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210621-99-79881 / 2
