Merz Faces Backlash Over Reform Agenda

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for fundamental reforms and warned that Germany risks falling behind in a rapidly changing world. But his speech to trade union delegates on Tuesday was met with boos and visible disapproval from the audience.

After a year in office, Merz is facing declining popularity while his government remains under pressure over the scope and pace of reforms in Europe’s largest economy. The coalition is focusing in particular on restoring economic growth, rising healthcare costs and the pension system.

The tense atmosphere among delegates representing industrial, public sector and service workers reflected a broader political conflict over Germany’s future direction, according to Reuters. At the same time, traditional parties continue to lose support to the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merz said Germany had created many of its own problems by delaying modernization for years.

“Germany must recover. It has to tackle the structural problems that we have been putting off for years”, the chancellor said.

He argued that high costs and excessive bureaucracy were weakening businesses and threatening jobs and future prosperity.

His proposals to reform the healthcare and pension systems drew particular criticism from the audience. Some trade union delegates responded with boos, laughter and thumbs-down gestures.

(reuters, bak)