Chancellor Merz scheduled to travel to North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)

In a historic visit to the town hall in Münster, Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) state government on Monday. The visit marked Merz's fourth official inaugural visit, following Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and Saarland, with the remaining federal states to follow.

Upon arrival, Merz was welcomed by NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst. After signing the Golden Book of the city, Merz participated in a cabinet meeting of the NRW state government, where discussions focused on energy policy and NRW as a defense location.

During the meeting, Merz and professors from Aachen, Bochum, Münster, and Cologne discussed NRW as a location for top research, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence and aerospace technology. The Chancellor was presented with a large-format picture featuring historical photos of important stations in his life in NRW.

One of the key agendas of the visit was the strengthening of the Bundeswehr. To achieve this, the state founded a task force under the leadership of the NRW Ministry of Finance in the spring. This organization, known as the "Bündnis für Infrastruktur der Bundeswehr" (Alliance for Bundeswehr Infrastructure), aims to expand necessary infrastructure such as railways and barracks.

The visit included a meeting with newly sworn-in police officers, during which Merz assured them of the support of political institutions for good working conditions, equipment, and care. Despite resistance to Merz's visit, with a protest rally under the motto "War monger out of the Peace Hall", up to 100 participants were expected by the police, but only a few demonstrators with Palestinian flags and a megaphone participated.

The visit concluded with a joint press conference by Merz and NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst. The Chancellor's current visit to NRW is part of his ongoing efforts to engage with each of the federal states, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their unique needs and potential contributions to Germany's future.