Merz cancels New York trip for UN General Assembly

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Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not fly to New York next Tuesday to attend the United Nations General Assembly as planned.

The cancellation comes amid intense discussions about Merz’s political future and a possible change in German leadership following Sunday’s elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, in which his party is expected to perform poorly.

“Contrary to original plans, the Chancellor will not travel to New York next week, as his presence is required in Berlin,” a German official familiar with the Chancellor’s schedule told POLITICO.

Merz had planned to fly to New York on Sept. 22 — two days after the elections — where he was to be awarded the Henry Kissinger Prize by the American Academy in Berlin and was scheduled to address the U.N. General Assembly. Next week is the U.N.’s so-called high-level week, during which numerous heads of state and government will address the General Assembly and hold important meetings.

Signs that the chancellor would cancel have dripped out during the past few days. Initially, Merz’ presence at the award ceremony for the “Henry Kissinger Prize” was canceled so that the Chancellor could still address a parliamentary group meeting on Sept. 22.

At that meeting right after the elections, many critical voices are expected — especially if, as feared, Merz’s Christian Democratic Union suffers a poor result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The party could even fall below the 5% threshold required to enter parliament. For Merz to fly abroad to accept an award in the midst of his biggest crisis as chancellor would not be good optics.

The fact that the entire trip has now been canceled underscores just how serious even the Chancellor’s Office views the domestic political crisis and the need to grapple with the future of the government and its leadership. Instead of Merz, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will address the United Nations. Merz had already been represented by Wadephul at last year’s U.N. General Assembly.

Joe Stanley-Smith contributed to this report.