Chancellor Friedrich Merz cancels trip to the UN General Assembly

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) will not fly to the UN General Assembly in New York next week on Tuesday as planned. “Politico” and WELT learned this from government circles. “Contrary to original plans, the Chancellor will not travel to New York next week as his presence in Berlin is necessary,” it said.

The cancellation comes amid intense discussions about Merz's political future and a possible "chancellor swap" after the elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin next Sunday. A government spokesman could not immediately comment on the matter.

Merz had planned to fly to New York on Tuesday - two days after the elections - where he was to be awarded the Henry Kissinger Prize by the American Academy in Berlin and to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. Next week is the so-called “High Level Week” of the United Nations, during which numerous heads of state and government address the General Assembly and hold separate meetings.

The Chancellor's cancellation had already been indicated: The awarding of the "Henry Kissinger Prize" was initially canceled so that Merz could still speak in the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag on the Tuesday after the elections, where many critical voices are feared - especially if, as feared, the CDU should achieve a bad result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or even be thrown out of the state parliament. There were also fears that it might seem out of place if Merz flew abroad to receive an award in the middle of his biggest crisis as chancellor.

The fact that the entire trip is now being canceled makes it clear how big the Chancellery sees the domestic political crisis and the need to fight locally in Berlin about the future of governance and the government's course. Instead of Merz, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) will speak at the United Nations. Merz had already been represented by Wadephul at the UN General Assembly last year.