The CDU held its first major federal party congress since the election in Stuttgart over the weekend. Poll numbers for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Union are currently poor. There is criticism within the party about Merz's leadership.
Over the weekend, the CDU gathered in Stuttgart for its first major federal party congress since the federal election. Poll numbers for Federal Chancellor and party leader Friedrich Merz, as well as for the Union, are currently low, as several reports emphasize.
Criticism of Merz is mounting within the CDU. Members of parliament, campaigners, and minister-presidents report difficulties that Merz faces in leading the party and the black-red coalition. These challenges were addressed during the party congress.
RND deputy bureau chief in the capital Kristina Dunz was on site in Stuttgart and reported for the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). She will discuss the consequences of the party congress in a live call on Monday, February 23, starting at 18:00. The event is free and requires registration; participants will be connected via video and audio.
The party congress marks an important moment for the CDU after the election, but the persistently weak polls and internal tensions raise questions about the stability of the leadership. Dunz's reporting provides insights into the congress and its implications for Merz as chancellor.
