Merz warns SPD there are limits to keeping Germany's coalition together

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz toughened his tone toward his Social Democratic coalition partner on Saturday, telling the conservative Young Union's annual congress in Bonn: "There are limits for me too." He said he would not place the coalition's survival above every conceivable political achievement and that it must be clear "who is the larger coalition partner." He dismissed talk of a minority government.

Merz also hit back at Manuela Schwesig, the SPD premier of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who according to dpa had accused his conservatives of "inhumane" treatment of former Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, who has resigned. Disagreement on substance was acceptable, "but we will not accept this disparagement," Merz said. "Doing everything does not mean accepting everything."

He warned the SPD and the Greens against talks with the Left Party in Berlin. The speech comes amid weak polling: an INSA survey for Bild cited by Schwäbische Zeitung put Merz's conservative bloc at 18% and the far-right AfD at 29%.