Laurenz Meyer, General Secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union CDU talks to Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Laurenz Meyer (R), General Secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union CDU talks to Friedrich Merz in Berlin December 20, 2004. In a new setback to party leader Angela Merkel's hopes of beating Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the 2006 election, Meyer was criticised by fellow conservative Christian Democrats and the government for payments that raised doubts about his integrity. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz