Party chairman of the CDU, Friedrich Merz, faced a debate with SPD leader Lars Klingbeil at “Maischberger” on Tuesday evening.Image: dpa / Michael Kappeler
Politics
former chancellor Angela Merkel was awarded the Grand Cross in a special design by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday evening. It is the highest German medal for personal achievement.
He described Merkel as an “unprecedented politician” and awarded the order with the words:
“To be honored, Madam Chancellor, for your extraordinarily long term of office and for your extraordinary political life, during which you used the experience of the dictatorship so convincingly to strengthen democracy.”
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In the run-up, however, there was already a lot of criticism, also from the ranks of the CDU. For example, the deputy CDU chairman Carsten Linnemann said on Monday in the RTL and ntv program “Frühstart” that it was obvious that Merkel “has great merits, especially internationally”. But of course she “also made mistakes, even blatant ones”. They should also be addressed.
When CDU leader Friedrich Merz was asked by the presenter about Merkel’s award in the “Maischberger” program, he visibly got into trouble.
CDU party leader Merz turns down congratulations to Merkel four times
The conflicts with her own party were also reflected on Monday evening. Angela Merkel was allowed to invite 20 guests to the ceremony with dinner. Including celebrities like ex-soccer coach Jürgen Klinsmann or actor Ulrich Matthes and some close confidants. Guests from the CDU leadership, such as the chairman Friedrich Merz, were missing.
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel received the Grand Cross in a special design on Monday evening.Image: dpa / Michael Kappeler
While Chancellor Olaf Scholz was one of the chosen few and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil publicly congratulated the former chancellor, Merz vehemently resisted congratulations.
In the political talk show “Maischberger”, moderator Sandra Maischberger wanted to know from Merz: “Have you already congratulated, actually?” A cool comment followed:
“It is the sovereign decision of the Federal President to whom he bestows the highest order in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is the sovereign decision of the recipient of the order to say who to invite.”
Here Merz already hinted at what was probably the real problem with the award for him. But Maischberger didn’t give up and pushed afterwards: “You weren’t invited.”
CDU leader Friedrich Merz provides an explanation for the defensive reaction
The moderator asked Merz four times whether he had congratulated him or not. Lars Klingbeil couldn’t help but smile and the amusement in the audience increased.
Lars Klingbeil had to smile when Merz resisted congratulations.Image: IMAGO / Eibner
But Merz remained defensive: “No, again, I’m doing it, I’m not making any public statements about it, that’s one thing that’s fine.” He repeated several times: As party leader of the CDU, he is proud that it is now the “third chancellor” from his own ranks who has received this honor.
Before Angela Merkel, only former Chancellors Konrad Adenauer (1954) and Helmut Kohl (1998) were awarded it.
“Chancellors”, Maischberger had to correct Merz’ choice of words. Lars Klingbeil only added: “I congratulated her, I hope that’s okay”.
After some back and forth, the CDU leader returned to his starting point and once again made it clear why he reacted so defensively to the honor: “Mrs. Merkel has decided to invite only old companions and active social democratic politicians to this award ceremony. It’s her choice. It’s okay the way it is.”
