German Opposition Leader Merz Defends Reform Program to Trade Union Congress

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democratic Union, defended his party's reform agenda before the German Trade Union Confederation's congress. The CDU chairman faced a largely skeptical audience of approximately 400 delegates at the DGB gathering, with his proposals receiving minimal support from union representatives. The appearance highlighted the traditional tensions between center-right political parties and organized labor in Germany, as Merz attempted to present his reform vision to a constituency that typically aligns with social democratic policies.