Merz visits chip researchers in Frankfurt (Oder) as mayor feels snubbed
During his visit to the Leibniz institute IHP, the chancellor praised German research. Mayor Strasser and the local CDU criticized not being included.
Archive image · Photo: Ice Boy Tell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) visited the Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics (IHP) in Frankfurt (Oder) on Friday morning. According to the chancellor's schedule, he met Leibniz Association president Christoph M. Schmidt and IHP managing director Gerhard Kahmen and toured the laboratories. Scientists showed him how silicon microchips for industry are made. "Our research is world-class. We can keep up," Merz said, according to dpa. The Leibniz Association said it had issued the invitation back in February.
The absence of Mayor Axel Strasser, who has no party affiliation, caused irritation. According to a spokesperson, he had not been invited. Strasser had wanted to show the chancellor other parts of the city and discuss youth violence, migration, staff shortages at schools, health care and bureaucracy. He also criticized municipalities having to take on more and more tasks without secure funding. On Instagram he wrote: "I would have liked to tell the chancellor about this in person. A short conversation would have been enough for a first impression." He added: "The chancellor was here. Sort of." At the same time, he stressed: "The invitation stands."
The local CDU district association was also disappointed because it had not been informed of the visit, the Märkische Oderzeitung reported. District chair Désirée Schrade said it would be important to signal to members "that they are seen and valued." The Federal Press Office had not responded to the criticism by the afternoon.