(de-news.net) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his economic messaging and social reform agenda, warned of declining trust in democratic institutions, and suggested Jens Spahn’s resignation could open the door to a Cabinet reshuffle. Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner expressed her hopes for a broader reset of the Federal Government.
The Chancellor defended both his recent remarks and his broader communication strategy, arguing that his statements had been mischaracterized amid public criticism. In an interview with ZDF, the CDU leader rejected suggestions that he had disparaged German workers, maintaining instead that he had sought to draw attention to Germany’s comparatively low number of hours worked and weaker productivity.
Merz argued that stronger economic performance would be essential if the country wished to preserve its welfare state over the long term. He also criticized what he described as a chronic tendency to portray Germany in an excessively negative light and appealed for greater public understanding of the coalition’s planned social welfare reforms. According to the chancellor, demographic change, strained public finances, and structural reforms postponed for decades had left the government with little alternative but to pursue measures that could prove politically and socially difficult. He added that the coalition’s immediate priority was to prevent further increases in social insurance contributions through health care reform, with pension and long-term care reforms scheduled to follow later this year.
Merz also argued that public debate often failed to reflect the level of support for his positions, accusing some media outlets of placing disproportionate emphasis on criticism while giving comparatively little attention to those who agreed with the government’s approach. Addressing his declining approval ratings, he said Germany was facing a broader crisis of confidence in democratic institutions rather than a challenge affecting only his administration. In his view, restoring public trust required a collective effort by both the governing coalition and all democratic parties. The chancellor further expressed concern about what he described as the increasingly confrontational tone in the Bundestag, arguing that the growing prevalence of personal attacks across much of the political spectrum was damaging democratic culture and eroding confidence in the country’s political institutions.
Brantner (Greens) urges government reset
Merz also addressed the resignation of CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn, explaining that he had honored Spahn’s request to manage the public announcement of his personal circumstances himself and had therefore not informed other senior CDU officials in advance. Spahn stepped down after facing widespread criticism following the announcement that he and his partner had become parents through a surrogate in the United States, despite his longstanding support for maintaining Germany’s prohibition on surrogacy. Merz declined to say publicly whether he felt personally misled by the sequence of events, describing the matter instead as concluded. At the same time, he praised Spahn’s leadership of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group and credited him with playing a significant role in advancing several of the coalition government’s recent policy initiatives.
The chancellor also suggested that Spahn’s departure could provide an opportunity to reconsider the composition of the federal Cabinet, although he emphasized that no decisions had yet been taken. He said a proposal for Spahn’s successor as parliamentary group leader would be presented in the near future, with Chancellery chief Thorsten Frei widely viewed as a leading potential candidate. Such an appointment would likely require broader changes within the Cabinet. Senior CDU officials and the executive board of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group are expected to meet to discuss the succession and the party’s next steps.
Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner argued that Spahn’s resignation had been overdue, asserting that it reflected a broader erosion of his political credibility stemming from earlier controversies, including the face mask procurement affair as well as his political positioning. She said the vacancy created an opportunity for Merz to reshape his ministerial team and reconsider the overall direction of his government, arguing that a cabinet reorganization could provide the administration with a chance to make a fresh start.
