This year's guest speaker Friedrich Merz wanted to encourage the centuries-old meeting of Rostock merchants - the annual food. Actually, one had wished for a different CDU size.
Rostock (dpa/mv) - As a centuries-old merchants' meeting, the annual menu of the merchants' team in Rostock comes up with prominent guest speakers every year. This year, the chairman of the Union parliamentary group, Friedrich Merz, wanted to encourage entrepreneurs. For the coming year, according to the chairman of the annual diet, ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has confirmed with reservations.
"We are very happy about that," said Klaus-Jürgen Strupp, who is also the President of the Rostock Chamber of Industry and Commerce, before the traditional reception in Rostock's town hall. It wouldn't be Merkel's first time. After she came a year before her first chancellorship, she was actually invited a year after her chancellorship, so this year, said Strupp. "She said she won't do it this year." Merkel has only made limited public appearances this year. Subject to health and any more important dates, Merkel has promised that she will come next year.
This year's guest speaker, CDU leader Merz, announced that "courage in difficult times" would be his message. "There are many problems, there are many challenges." He sees opportunities for northern Germany in the current energy crisis. He currently has "some structural advantages and he should use them". For example, the city of Rostock has a lot of potential in wind and solar energy and through the port.
Merchants from Rostock have been collecting donations for charitable purposes in the Hanseatic city at the annual food festival since the Middle Ages. The menu is always the same, as a spokeswoman explained in advance: oxtail soup, rib roast and red fruit jelly. In addition, as chairman or so-called Öllermann, Strupp had to recite a saying in Low German that dates back to 1562.
As in previous years, the merchants are expecting a donation of more than 50,000 euros. 30,000 euros are to go to the Rostocker Tafel, 15,000 euros to the University of Music and Theater and 11,000 euros to the World Heritage Association for the Astronomical Clock. More than 200 guests had registered, said the spokeswoman.
