The CDU is currently on the road to success, but party leader Merz is not always well received. Now his wife is giving insights into their relationship – and sticks with her husband on the K question.
The Union is clearly at the top in the polls, but the CDU leader’s personal values are rather weak: Now Charlotte Merz, judge and wife of Friedrich Merz, presents her partner as approachable in an interview.
However, she kept quiet about the question of her candidacy for chancellor in the “Bild” newspaper (online). “Nice try. But I won’t say anything about that,” she replied. She avoided the question of whether Merz would be a good chancellor: “I am biased on this question.”
The 68-year-old is considered the favorite for the Union candidacy if the traffic light coalition breaks prematurely, but wants to prevent an open power struggle. A regular nomination should take place after the state elections in the east in September. Merz’s own approval ratings are rather low, especially among young women.
Merz: Grandchildren idolize their “grandpa”
His wife, who is herself a CDU member, described him in the interview as a loving husband and grandfather. The grandchildren would adore their “grandpa,” she reported, describing the couple’s Sunday ritual: “My husband gets the rolls on his bike. We have a hearty breakfast, read the newspaper and tell each other about our week.”
In the ZDF political barometer from March, for example, Merz only came third among CDU and CSU voters when assessing the chances of success for the next federal election. According to the survey, CSU boss Markus Söder would have the best chance of a good result.
Charlotte Merz not only spoke about her marriage in the newspaper, but also became political about child care in Germany. “As a CDU member, mother and politically interested woman, I have been asking myself for years why childcare expenses cannot be deducted from taxes indefinitely – in contrast to travel expenses. I find this to be deeply unfair.” She regrets for today’s generation of parents that it is still so difficult to combine family and work and that there is a lack of daycare and kindergarten places.
Source: Stern
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