CDU leader Friedrich Merz made a rare closed‑door campaign stop in Berlin three days before the city election, joining Stefan Evers at his first campaign event and addressing about 150 party officials. The appearance follows hostile receptions in other states and Merz’s limited campaigning after recent AfD victories. Polls show the CDU narrowly trailing The Left and just ahead of the AfD. Evers, who replaced Kai Wegner in July after Wegner withdrew amid a scandal, framed the CDU as the pragmatic alternative to extremist parties.
Merz Makes Rare Closed‑Door Campaign Stop for Berlin CDU Ahead of Vote
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) stands next to Stefan Evers, Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) lead candidate in Berlin, at a CDU Berlin campaign event ahead of the House of Representatives election at the Konrad Adenauer House. (is associated with: «Merz campaigns for Berlin CDU ahead of election - behind closed doors») Michael Kappeler/dpa
Facing mounting political pressure, CDU leader Friedrich Merz made a rare, closed‑door campaign appearance in Berlin three days before the city's election, joining the party’s lead candidate Stefan Evers at his first campaign event.
Merz, whose approval ratings have slipped in recent months, addressed roughly 150 party officials gathered at the CDU's national headquarters. He praised Evers and sought to rally the party as Berlin voters head to the polls.
“With a mayor like this, we can all continue to be proud of our capital city,” Merz told attendees.
The visit follows a series of difficult outings for Merz: in August he was booed at a campaign stop in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern — which votes on the same day as Berlin — and he has largely stayed off the campaign trail in Saxony‑Anhalt after the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) scored a decisive win there two weeks ago.
Despite low personal ratings for Merz, the CDU is fighting to retain the Berlin mayoralty. Recent polls show the CDU narrowly trailing The Left (Die Linke) and sitting just ahead of the AfD.
Evers only entered the race in July after incumbent mayor Kai Wegner withdrew from the re‑election bid amid a long‑running scandal over a tennis match he played during a sabotage‑induced blackout in January. Evers has positioned the CDU as a pragmatic alternative to both the AfD and The Left.
“This city of freedom cannot fall into the hands of extremists and extremist political parties, of parties that openly allow hatred of Jews in their ranks,” Evers warned.
With voting imminent, the closed‑door meeting was a last‑minute push to consolidate party support and sharpen the CDU’s message in a tight race for Berlin’s leadership.
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