Merz cancels New York trip as domestic political pressure mounts in Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has scrapped his trip to New York, where he was due to receive the Henry Kissinger Prize and address the U.N. General Assembly. The cancellation comes days before key regional elections in Germany.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has canceled his planned trip to New York, which was scheduled for Sept. 22 — two days after regional elections in Germany. The visit would have coincided with the U.N.'s high-level week, when numerous heads of state and government address the General Assembly and hold key meetings.
Merz had been due to receive the Henry Kissinger Prize, awarded by the American Academy in Berlin, and to address the U.N. General Assembly. Signs of a possible cancellation had emerged over the preceding days, with Merz first withdrawing only from the award ceremony so he could attend a parliamentary group meeting on Sept. 22 instead.
That meeting, held right after the elections, is expected to feature sharp criticism from within his own party, particularly if, as feared, his Christian Democratic Union performs poorly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. There is even a risk the party could fall below the 5% threshold needed to enter the state parliament.
Against that backdrop, traveling abroad to accept an award in the midst of his biggest crisis as chancellor would have raised questions about the government's priorities. The decision to cancel the entire trip signals how seriously the Chancellor's Office views the domestic political crisis and the pressing need to address the government's future and leadership.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will address the United Nations in Merz's place. Wadephul also represented Germany at last year's U.N. General Assembly.
