Because of pact with FPÖ

German candidate for chancellor fires back at ÖVP

CDU leader Friedrich Merz describes blue-black as a "disaster".

(Bild: AP/The Associated Press)

Germany's CDU leader and candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz has strongly criticized the ÖVP for the current coalition negotiations with the FPÖ. For him, blue-black is a "disaster". The People's Party reacted calmly.

At a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the leader of the opposition German CDU commented on Austria's current domestic policy.

"ÖVP strategy has failed"
The Christian Democrat sees the ÖVP strategy towards the FPÖ as a failure: "They tried to make them more moderate and bring them back to the democratic center by giving them government offices. But the opposite happened," said Merz according to a recording of the English-language conversation on the WEF's YouTube channel (see video below).

Merz rules out alliance with right-wing AfD
The CDU politician emphasized as "my conclusion" from these events in the run-up to the German federal elections on 23 February with regard to the AfD: "We will not include these right-wing populists in a government that is led by me. Never!"

The CDU is leading in the current German polls, with the right-wing AfD in second place. Merz's political remedy against a further strengthening of the right is "very simple": "Solve the problems that people see."

"Emotional" debates about blue-black at EPP meeting
At the EPP meeting in Berlin a few days ago, the coalition negotiations in Austria were debated "very emotionally", reported the "Kurier" newspaper. MEP Peter Liese (CDU) even said that the ÖVP was "selling its soul", according to the newspaper. EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola was also concerned.

The ÖVP is selling its soul.

Der EU-Abgeordnete Peter Liese (CDU)

EU Parliament President also concerned
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola is also concerned. According to the report, the EPP leaders are exploring every possibility to find a different government constellation in Vienna. The greatest nervousness is among the German sister parties CDU and CSU, which are facing elections.

ÖVP: "Austria needs a government"
In response to Merz's fierce criticism, the People's Party emphasized that "Austria needs a new government". The country "remains a reliable and constructive part of the European Union", it said on Thursday. Like the ÖVP, the CDU is a member of the European People's Party (EPP).