“The coalition has found its footing,” says Merz.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during a summer press conference, touted the reforms his government had achieved and said more reforms were to come.

Merz belongs to the conservative Christian Democratic Union, which is in a federal governing coalition with the CDU’s Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union and the center-left Social Democrats.

Merz’s coalition recently put forward a legislative package regarding health care reform and tax relief, sick leave and pensions. “The coalition has gained ground,” the German chancellor said.

Merz said that reforms to nursing care insurance will be implemented later this year and she also expects a legislative proposal regarding reform of the Working Hours Act. Working Hours Act (working time act) is a law that regulates the maximum length of permissible working hours, and also sets rules for break and rest periods.

Merz stressed that the government will also continue its efforts to eliminate cumbersome bureaucracy.

Germany’s coalition government, which came to power in May 2025, has often struggled with infighting over controversial issues such as pensions.

As regional elections approached, the public became dissatisfied with the

The summer press conference is taking place as German lawmakers go on vacation.

Merz raised questions after a survey by broadcasters RTL/NTV found that only 14% of Germans were satisfied with his job.

The media briefing also comes ahead of regional elections in the three states of Mecklenburg-Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin. The far-right AfD is expected to make historic gains in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt and could soon control a German state government for the first time.

Merz said he was “optimistic” that the AfD would not win a majority in the upcoming regional elections. Merz also stressed that her CDU would not work with the AfD or the Socialist Left Party.