Merz's "We can do it" call faces headwinds from within CDU and SPD

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is attempting to galvanize his coalition government with a rallying cry reminiscent of Angela Merkel's "Wir schaffen das" (We can do it). However, his call for unity and action is being met with considerable internal friction, revealing deep-seated differences within the CDU and SPD parties.

Key reform projects are facing significant hurdles, with sharp disagreements emerging over policy details. The Junge Union (JU), the youth wing of the CDU, proposed reducing a planned pension increase from 4.2% to 3%, a move fiercely rejected by the SPD. Annika Klose, the SPD's social policy spokesperson, accused the JU of trying to pit generations against each other and instead advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy.

Further complicating the coalition's agenda is the ongoing tension between Merz and potential rivals within the CDU, such as North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst. Wüst is pushing for extensive deregulation to restore public trust through "willingness to act." His state is positioning itself as a pioneer in modernizing public administration, a key component of the government's "Federal Modernization Agenda."

Adding to the discord is a proposal from the Association of Family Businesses suggesting that the coalition forgo its summer parliamentary recess to accelerate reforms. This idea has been met with disbelief from coalition lawmakers. Steffen Bilger, parliamentary group leader for the CDU, and Dirk Wiese, his SPD counterpart, both stated that government and parliamentary work continues regardless of the season, pushing back against the notion that a recess is a primary obstacle to progress.