In Germany, debate over a possible replacement of Chancellor Friedrich Merz has continued to widen since May 28, though several CDU officials have publicly rejected it. Hesse's Minister-President Boris Rhein and the chairman of the Union's parliamentary group, Jens Spahn, demonstratively backed Merz at the CDU Hesse state party congress. Spiegel.de ↗
According to reports, Rhein called for "more Merz," while Spahn described the speculation about replacing the chancellor as nonsense. Support for Merz was also voiced by North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, whose name has repeatedly come up in the debate as a possible alternative. Chancellery chief Thorsten Frei warned against a fruitless personnel debate, and the government emphasizes that the chancellor wants to focus on the reform process. Tagesspiegel ↗
At the same time, pressure on Merz continues due to weak polls, coalition disputes, and expected reforms. Discussions are underway on the pension system, taxes, healthcare, and working hours. The East German Economic Forum is set to discuss reform plans with government politicians at a time when the mood among businesses in Germany is poor. Spiegel.de ↗
The broader context also includes Economy Minister Katherina Reiche's trip to Beijing. In talks with Chinese Trade Minister Wang, she stressed the need for cooperation with a demanding partner but called for fair conditions of economic competition. Chinese policy is also mentioned in connection with Taiwan, where Beijing's growing influence under Xi Jinping is once again raising the question of pressure to bring the island under mainland Chinese control. The Guardian ↗
Merz has secured CDU support, but the debate over replacing him continues
Videos
On Record
Friedrich Merz
nemecký kancelár
26.10.2026
„Die Parlamentswahlen in Serbien sind klar entschieden. Wir gratulieren der Studentenliste! Mit ihrer Forderung nach Rechtsstaatlichkeit, Korruptionsbekämpfung und Grundfreiheiten hat sie die Menschen erreicht. Den europäischen Weg Serbiens werden wir engagiert unterstützen."
Blahoželanie Študentskej kandidátke deň po srbských voľbách.
👤
Friedrich Merz
Spolkový kancelár Nemecka
18.10.2026
„Frieden und Sicherheit in Europa sind nicht mehr selbstverständlich"
Upozornenie na bezpečnostnú situáciu v Európe
👤
Friedrich Merz
Kancelár Nemecka
17.06.2026
„Tag der Hoffnung"
Hodnotenie vývoja na summite G7 vo vzťahu k Ukrajine
👤
Friedrich Merz
Kancelár Nemecka
20.03.2026
„Čo sa dnes stalo v Rade, je neprijateľné a v budúcnosti sa tomu zabráni. Je to akt vážnej nelojality."
Tlačová konferencia po summite EÚ, reakcia na Orbánovo veto
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (17)
Parteitag der Hessen-CDU: Rhein und Spahn stellen sich demonstrativ hinter Merz
Die Zeit
| 13:08 30.05.
Parteitag der Hessen-CDU: Rhein und Spahn stellen sich demonstrativ hinter Merz
Tagesspiegel
| 13:10 30.05.
Boris Rhein und Jens Spahn stellen sich demonstrativ hinter Friedrich Merz
Spiegel.de
| 08:51 31.05.
Debatte über »Kanzlertausch«: Wüst weist Gerüchte über »Kanzlertausch« zurück und unterstützt Merz
Die Zeit
| 19:20 29.05.
Stellt sich hinter Merz: Wüst: Spekulationen über Kanzlerwechsel "einfach Quatsch"
n-tv
| 18:33 29.05.
Klausurtagung in Meschede: Merz und Wüst zu interner CDU-Tagung im Sauerland erwartet
Tagesspiegel
| 09:54 29.05.
V Berlíne sa hovorí o výmene kancelára. Kto by mohol nahradiť Merza?
pravda.sk
| 14:00 28.05.
Merz vs. Wüst: Was ist dran am Gerücht über einen Kanzlerwechsel?
Spiegel.de
| 12:43 28.05.
Hendrik Wüst vs Friedrich Merz: NRW-Ministerpräsident widerspricht Gerüchten über Kanzlerwechsel
Spiegel.de
| 19:10 29.05.
Allemagne : après les mauvais sondages, Friedrich Merz fragilisé par les rumeurs de remplacement
Le Figaro
| 16:18 29.05.
„Nicht relevant“: Kanzleramt bemüht sich um Ende der Merz-Debatte
Tagesspiegel
| 14:50 29.05.
Kanzlertausch-Debatte: Friedrich Merz will sich auf Reformprozess konzentrieren
Die Zeit
| 13:48 29.05.
Spekulationen um Hendrik Wüst: Sagen Sie jetzt nichts
Sueddeutsche Zeitung
| 12:35 29.05.
Bundeskanzler: Kanzleramtschef Frei weist Personaldebatte als »unfruchtbar« zurück
Die Zeit
| 00:17 29.05.
Putsch tegen Merz? CDU weerspreekt speculaties over vervangen bondskanselier
NOS
| 19:19 28.05.
Berlin Tag & Macht: Merz sucht Lösungen - seine Partei schon seinen Nachfolger?
n-tv
| 18:10 28.05.
Merz und Wüst: Eine vertrackte Beziehung
Tagesspiegel
| 11:34 28.05.
🔥 You might also like
📰
World Politics
Merz meets with Magyar and businesses, pressure for reforms continues
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz receives Hungarian PM Péter Magyar in Berlin on Tuesday, ahead of Magyar's official visit to Paris.
World Politics
Merz rejects cooperation with AfD, party seeks partners in Saxony-Anhalt
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sharply criticized the victorious Alternative for Germany (AfD) at the Bundestag's first plenary session after the Saxony-Anhal …
📰
German Politics
Authorities Address Risks Following AfD Victory in Saxony-Anhalt
AfD's win in Saxony-Anhalt regional elections raises security concerns and sparks discussion about constitutional measures against the party.
© HotInfo
Geographic locations
From our newsroom original
All →
Stubb and Støre Spoke with Putin by Phone About Negotiations on Ukraine
Israelis vote on Netanyahu and his challenger Eisenkot
Steinmeier begins visit to China, Merz travels to Japan
Cruise ship with over 3,300 people on board collided with two container ships in Bremerhaven
Swiss court convicts Belarusian over disappearance of Lukashenko opponent in 1999
International Criminal Court may use American software even under US sanctions
Putin, Trump and Xi Summit on Ukraine: Kremlin Admits Talks Took Place, But Says Nothing Concrete Was Proposed. Kyiv Warns It Would Embolden Putin
Suspect in assassination plan against Tusk sent to two months in detention. Poland argues over the seriousness of the threat
