Storm forces Merz’s CDU to cancel key party meeting in Germany

Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats (CDU) have cancelled a major party meeting scheduled for this weekend after severe winter storms swept across the country, disrupting transport and prompting widespread safety warnings.

The two-day conference, which was to be attended by CDU leader and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the city of Mainz near Frankfurt, was called off due to extreme weather conditions, a party spokeswoman said on January 8, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“Due to the severe weather warnings and the associated dangers, as well as the announced train and flight cancellations, we unfortunately feel compelled to cancel our annual kick-off meeting,” she said.

Germany’s national weather service, the DWD, has forecast heavy snowfall, freezing rain and strong winds across large parts of the country, particularly in eastern and central regions, as well as in the north between the cities of Bremen and Hamburg. A DWD meteorologist described the expected conditions as “extreme.”

The storm, named Elli, has already caused widespread disruption. Authorities in Hamburg and Bremen, along with parts of the northern state of Lower Saxony, announced that schools will remain closed on January 9. Officials have also urged residents to stay indoors from the afternoon of January 8.

Forecasters expect up to 25 centimetres of new snow in parts of northern and northeastern Germany. Several regions have already reported traffic chaos, transport cancellations and fatal accidents linked to the severe weather.

By Sabina Mammadli