Chancellor Merz to unexpectedly address North Rhine-Westphalia CDU party conference

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has unexpectedly announced his attendance at the North Rhine-Westphalia CDU party conference in Düsseldorf this Saturday, July 2, 2026. Initially, Merz was not expected to attend the event, which is being referred to internally as a "working conference."

A spokesperson for the CDU in North Rhine-Westphalia confirmed Merz's upcoming speech, citing a "window" of opportunity that arose in his schedule. The conference is primarily focused on preparing the CDU's campaign strategy for the state election scheduled for April 2027. Approximately 680 delegates from the state's largest CDU branch are expected to attend.

While the state chairman and Minister-President Hendrik Wüst's report was slated to be the central focus, Merz's surprise appearance is likely to shift attention. This comes amid recent speculation about potential leadership changes within the federal government, including rumors of a possible transition from Merz to Wüst. Wüst has publicly dismissed these rumors as "nonsense" and reaffirmed his full support for Merz.

Merz, whose constituency is in the Sauerland region, will address the delegates. The party conference is seen as a crucial step in consolidating the CDU's position in North Rhine-Westphalia ahead of the upcoming state elections.