Merz urges coalition unity amid governing challenges

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged his administration to stay cohesive and keep tackling growing challenges, as the conservative-led coalition completed a difficult first year in power marked by frequent internal disputes, Sebastian Hille, Deputy Government Spokesman, has stated.

He said, reflecting on the past year, Merz expressed appreciation to Cabinet members for their work at the opening of a meeting on May 6, Caliber.Az reports, citing dpa.

He voiced hope that “future cooperation will be characterized by a spirit of collegiality and mutual trust,” adding that there should be “no shortage of optimism.”

Merz also underscored the necessity of preserving the coalition, Hille noted, quoting him as telling ministers: “There is no alternative to this coalition.”

Merz’s conservative bloc formed a government with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) after winning the national elections in February 2025.

The early election was triggered by the downfall of the previous SPD-led government, which had been widely criticised for persistent infighting, particularly over measures to revive the struggling economy.

Although the new coalition, which assumed office on May 6, 2025, was expected to be more ideologically aligned, Merz faced an unsteady start, becoming the first post-war German chancellor to require two rounds of voting in parliament to secure confirmation.

Several lawmakers from within the coalition initially withheld their backing, a move some analysts viewed as an early sign of the alliance’s internal tensions.

The challenges continued in the months that followed, as Merz devoted much of his time to international diplomacy, aiming to reassert Germany’s leadership role in Europe and globally.

While he was praised for reaffirming Germany’s support for Ukraine and for appearing to build constructive ties with Donald Trump—an achievement later tested by his outspoken criticism of the conflict in Iran—his strong focus on foreign policy drew criticism at home. Some argued he was overlooking pressing domestic issues, including the underperforming economy.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov