On the final day of the Christian Social Union (CSU) annual meeting in Seeon, in Bavaria, Germany's conservative candidate Merz says he is entering the election campaign "with a great deal of optimism" and "united" with his Bavarian allies at the CSU. In front of the journalists, he pledges "a fundamental change in policy", a European Union "capable of taking action", while warning against "disruptive political decisions in the USA the week after next, "when Donald Trump becomes President". IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES