German Chancellor Merz faces internal party revolt amid 'summer of horror'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is navigating a "summer of horror" within his own party, marked by repeated "craftsmanship errors" and internal dissent, according to an analysis by Susanne Gaschke for NZZ. What was intended as a summer of reform has instead become a period of turmoil for the Christian Democrats (CDU).

Gaschke points to several instances where Merz appears to have undermined himself. The handling of the surrogacy case involving a party member who had a child via a surrogate in the U.S. is cited as a prime example. Merz's delay in demanding the member's resignation, possibly due to fears of being labeled homophobic, allowed public outcry to escalate.

Further compounding the issues was a "poorly prepared personnel reshuffle" that created additional problems. These missteps have fueled speculation among some Christian Democrats about Merz's future in office and led to public criticism from regional party leaders, a departure from the CDU's traditionally disciplined approach.

The analysis questions whether the party is succumbing to a destructive, anti-authoritarian spirit or if Merz's leadership is the primary cause of the internal strife. The article suggests that Merz's actions, rather than external factors, are largely responsible for the current crisis within the CDU.