“Merz knows his craft”: Seehofer gives Merkel a birthday present

“Merz knows his craft”
Seehofer gives Merkel a birthday present

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Shortly before the birthday party for former Chancellor Merkel, the former CSU leader has a wish for the birthday girl: she should finally admit her mistakes in refugee policy, demands Seehofer. At the same time, he comes out as a fan of another CDU politician.

Former CSU leader Horst Seehofer called on former Chancellor Angela Merkel to be self-critical at the CDU’s 70th birthday celebrations this Wednesday. “I don’t think Angela Merkel would be losing her crown if she said: I wasn’t right every day on the migration issue,” Seehofer told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. He said he had “no feelings of triumph that a lot of the things I demanded years ago are now being done – and that some people even called me right-wing extremist for doing so. But I do feel satisfaction within myself.”

The AfD’s strong election results are also causing him great concern, said Seehofer. “One of the worst consequences of Merkel’s course is the dangerous blossoming of the AfD,” believes the former CSU leader and Bavarian Prime Minister. He therefore welcomed the course of CDU leader Friedrich Merz – and his proclamation as the Union’s candidate for chancellor. “Merz knows his craft,” says Seehofer. “After he made his move on migration policy at the federal press conference, I called him and just said: ‘Friedrich, that’s how you run a country.'”

“Then I would have to write another book”

Seehofer and Merkel were party leaders at the same time for ten years. The two also sat together in Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s cabinet. And Seehofer was a minister in Merkel’s first and last cabinet.

Now Seehofer is waiting for the book that the former chancellor plans to publish in November – especially because of the possible passages on the dispute over migration policy. “I am curious to see how she will portray this period in her book,” said Seehofer. “If she portrays things incorrectly, I would have to write another book.”

CDU leader Merz will have to make a more statesmanlike statement than Seehofer at the gala evening. His relationship with the former chancellor is considered to be strained. Nevertheless, he will give a speech at Merkel’s birthday party. He had previously repeatedly publicly criticized her government record.

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