Before the CDU party convention began, Friedrich Merz faced significant pressure reflected in a Forsa Institute survey showing that only about one-fifth of the population believed he was performing better than his predecessor, Olaf Scholz. This situation is particularly harsh for the CDU, as they have continually criticized the ruling coalition's capability to govern. Merz acknowledged criticism during his speech, admitting that perhaps the party did not sufficiently communicate the challenges of enacting significant reforms after the government's change.