berlin Hosts EPP Summit as Friedrich Merz Eyes German Chancellorship
BERLIN – The European People’s Party (EPP) convened in Berlin on Saturday, rallying behind Friedrich Merz, the man they believe will become Germany’s next chancellor and restore the country’s leadership within their influential centre-right bloc.
“Large parts of Europe are looking forward to a stable government and a Chancellor Friedrich Merz,” declared Manfred Weber,the EPP leader,during the gathering. While the sentiment may resonate across Europe, the reality is that only germans will cast their votes in the upcoming election in five weeks.
Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) currently leads the polls with around 30% support. Though, recent surveys suggest a softening of the centre-right’s position, even as the far-right gains momentum.
The stakes are high. The EPP, already the strongest political family in Europe, sees Germany’s return to its fold as a game-changer. As the EU’s dominant force, Germany’s alignment with the EPP would significantly bolster the bloc’s influence.
To underscore Germany’s importance, nine EPP heads of state and government, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to Berlin to lend their support. The event also marked von der Leyen’s return to the public stage after a pneumonia-induced hiatus.
The CDU, the largest branch of the EPP, accounts for about one-third of the party’s lawmakers in the European Parliament.Despite their narrow loss in Germany’s 2021 election,wich relegated them to the opposition benches,the CDU remains a powerhouse within the EPP.
The Berlin summit signaled a clear message: if Merz becomes chancellor, the CDU will reclaim its role as a driving force in European politics.
The EPP’s policy manifestos, signed off during the meeting, echoed the CDU’s election platform. A source familiar with the matter revealed that the Germans had prepared the original proposal for the anti-bureaucracy pamphlet at the heart of the discussions.
The four-page document advocates “cutting back” on EU-level regulation, a move some attribute to von der Leyen’s first-term green Deal. Notably, critics of von der leyen’s efforts to reduce red tape appeared to prevail, as the final document deemed her latest legislation insufficiently bold.
The party “stands behind” the “Merz plan for de-bureaucratisation in Europe,” Weber affirmed on stage.
The proposals also shaped the EPP’s political priorities for 2025, which Weber envisions as the foundation for von der Leyen’s upcoming Commission program.
The Berlin summit left there’s no doubt whatsoever: with Merz at the helm, the CDU is poised to chart Europe’s course once again.
| Key Highlights from the EPP Summit in Berlin |
|————————————————–|
| Event | EPP leaders gather to endorse Friedrich Merz for German chancellorship |
| Key Quote | “Large parts of Europe are looking forward to a stable government and a Chancellor Friedrich Merz” – Manfred Weber |
| CDU’s Poll standing | Leads with ~30% support, though centre-right momentum may be softening |
| EPP’s Goal | Restore Germany’s leadership within the centre-right bloc |
| Key Policy Focus | Cutting back on EU-level regulation, de-bureaucratisation |
| Von der Leyen’s Role | Returned to public stage after pneumonia-induced break |
As the election approaches, all eyes are on Merz and the CDU. Will they reclaim the chancellery and steer Europe’s future? Only time will tell.
