In Düsseldorf, Friedrich Merz delivers a reform-focused speech to the North Rhine-Westphalia CDU, emphasizing the need for urgent political decisions.

Merz avoids discussing the far-right AfD or the upcoming NATO summit, instead portraying Germany as at a pivotal moment requiring decisive action and reform.

He highlights the challenges of pension reform as the toughest social policy package and urges cooperation from state leaders, particularly Hendrik Wüst, to ensure successful healthcare reform legislation.