Merz opts for waiting instead of clarifying: judicial candidates should be renegotiated

The new governing coalition under CDU Chancellor Friedrich Merz has only been in office for 74 days, and it is already severely damaged. Under pressure both domestically and internationally, the alliance is struggling to maintain its profile, direction, and cohesion. The blockade of the judicial election by parts of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group is symbolic of this deep rift.

The much-vaunted "working coalition" of the CDU/CSU and SPD , which began with the promise of assuming "responsibility for Germany," instead presents a picture of constant friction. How long can this continue? How much conflict can this alliance tolerate? And what does this say about the Chancellor's leadership? After ten weeks as Chancellor, Merz takes stock in his final press conference before the summer break and faces questions from journalists.

Foreign policy expert Merz is tight-lipped when it comes to domestic policy

Security policy, budget crisis, special funds – Merz touches on the major issues, while also praising the strength of the Federal Republic to be able to "solve these challenges on its own." He says that many things have been initiated, reforms have been initiated, and, despite international commitments, "they have not lost sight of the concerns of the citizens." A clear attempt to correct the image of the aloof Chancellor who prefers to fly around the world rather than deal with domestic policy.

But as soon as his speech is over, everything revolves around what Friedrich Merz would most like to suppress these days: the failed election of SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf to the Federal Constitutional Court; and the danger to the internal relations within the parliamentary group that this could pose.

Merz remains tight-lipped, evasive, and emphasizes that he does not want to make "any public assessments of individual people." Moreover, "everything has already been said about this." Asked how he assesses Brosius-Gersdorf's appearance on Markus Lanz, during which the judge defended herself in detail, he says: "Due to time constraints, I was unable to watch the program." He only says this: The coalition partners will find a common solution.

The election is the responsibility of the parliamentary groups, "both parliamentary groups," Merz emphasized. There is "no time pressure." Talks on a possible replacement for the judgeship are continuing behind closed doors. The Chancellor left open whether Brosius-Gersdorf should run for re-election. They have "agreed to prepare better next time."

Judicial election process to begin in September at the earliest

And Friedrich Merz repeats what he said last Sunday in the ZDF "Summer Interview": "Members of Parliament cannot be forced; you cannot give them orders." If it is a matter of conscience, then that should be respected. That's what people say.

When asked whether he still stands by parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn , Merz briefly refers to earlier statements: "I said everything about that last week. That hasn't changed to this day." Just as the SPD is sticking with Brosius-Gersdorf, the CDU leader is sticking with Jens Spahn.

Merz believes that whether the two-thirds majority required for judicial elections in the Bundestag needs to be reformed in the future is something to be considered. He doesn't yet have a final opinion on the matter. What is clear, however, is that the nomination of candidates must be resubmitted by the Judicial Election Committee. A new process starting in September is unavoidable, from start to finish.

Then the subject changes, and the Foreign Chancellor suddenly becomes more specific. He focuses on the issues that seem to interest him much more: Israel, the war in Ukraine, Donald Trump. Foreign policy.