Rostock (dpa/mv) – Union faction leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) is expected to be a guest speaker at this year’s annual food festival for Rostock’s merchants on October 28. Merz will certainly develop its ideas “sharp-tongued and succinctly” in times of inflation and the energy crisis, said Klaus-Jürgen Strupp, chairman of the Rostock merchant association, on Tuesday.

At the traditional donation gala – which is taking place this year in the Hotel Radisson Blu – 30,000 euros are to be collected for the Rostocker Tafel, 15,000 euros for the Hochschule für Musik und Theater and 11,000 euros for the World Heritage Association for the astronomical clock. A reception at City Hall is also planned before the main event.

“Since the Middle Ages, merchants in Rostock have had the custom of celebrating after a successful business year and doing good to others at the same time,” explained Strupp, who is also President of the city’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Despite the current crisis, he hopes for a good donation result. According to the information, 200 members and guests are registered.