Chancellor Friedrich Merz has predicted a successful future for Germany provided it stays on its reform course.
"Germany's best years are not behind us: If we get it right, we have some very good years ahead of us," he said at the party conference for his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
"The success story of our country, the Federal Republic of Germany, is not yet over," he said on Saturday in the state capital Dusseldorf.
Germany has achieved a great deal in recent decades, said Merz, who is the CDU's federal chairman. The country has also repeatedly managed to work its way out of crises. Such challenges must be met with reforms, he said. This is precisely what the federal government he leads is doing now.
"We are proving that the political centre can find solutions, work out compromises and also reform the country," said Merz. "Step by step, we are proving that we are a genuine reform coalition for Germany."
After 80 years of freedom, peace and prosperity, the task now is to make the right decisions so that the younger generation can continue to live in the same way, he said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia attend the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) North Rhine-Westphalia state party convention. (is associated with: «Merz says Germany has some very good years ahead») Thomas Banneyer/dpa
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) arrives to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) North Rhine-Westphalia state party convention. (is associated with: «Merz says Germany has some very good years ahead») Thomas Banneyer/dpa