Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
Seehofer accuses Merz of losing public trust over broken promises
Former Bavarian minister-president Horst Seehofer has sharply criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government.
Seehofer, a member of the Christian Social Union, says Merz has lost credibility by breaking campaign promises.
He points to a pledge by the conservative alliance of the CDU and CSU to cut electricity tax for everyone, saying it has not happened.
Seehofer also says people need more financial relief and criticises comments suggesting Germans do not work enough.
His remarks come as the CDU faces poor election results and falls behind the far-right Alternative for Germany in opinion polls.
The party's leadership is meeting to discuss how to respond to its difficulties.
The criticism adds to pressure on Merz and his leadership of the CDU.
Former Bavarian minister-president Horst Seehofer accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz of suffering a major loss of credibility.
Seehofer said Merz had broken election promises, including a pledge to cut electricity tax for everyone.
He called for more action and fewer expert commissions, and said people needed real financial relief.
Seehofer also criticized comments by some Christian Democrats that Germans do not work enough.
The CDU leadership was due to meet to discuss ways out of a crisis following recent election setbacks.
- Who
- Horst Seehofer, former Bavarian minister-president, criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the federal government.
- What
- Seehofer accused Merz of losing credibility by failing to keep election promises.
- When
- The comments were reported on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- The criticism concerned Germany’s federal government and CDU; no specific location for the interview is stated.
- Why
- Seehofer said promised measures, including an electricity tax cut, had not happened and that people needed real financial relief.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The CDU and CSU immediate programme promised a cut in electricity tax for everyone as its first measure – nothing has happened
Trust in authentic action is the most important factor in politics. Merz does not have that
What people need is real relief. Instead, bracket creep means even small wage increases are immediately eaten up
The CDU was voted out of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament for the first time.
Seehofer’s criticism of Merz was reported in an interview with Bild.
The CDU leadership was scheduled to meet to discuss ways out of the party’s crisis.
- Critic
- Horst Seehofer, former Bavarian minister-president
- Target
- Friedrich Merz, German chancellor and CDU leader
- Unfulfilled pledge cited
- A cut in electricity tax for everyone
- Party meeting
- CDU leadership gathering scheduled for two days
- Election setback
- CDU lost its Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament seats
Sources
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