Stress in CDU Mounts as Coalition Negotiations Intensify - Merz Under Scrutiny
- Proposals Already Forwarded by the Commission to the Council
The CDU's dismal poll numbers are causing an internal uproar, pressing party leader Friedrich Merz to push for union demands during the coalition negotiations. Johannes Winkel, head of the youth organization JU, conditionalizes his approval of the coalition agreement on the policy changes the union campaigned for.
In a Monday interview with "Süddeutsche Zeitung," Winkel stated, "The union has made significant progress with the SPD on finance. Now the SPD must make significant strides with the union on economics and migration." The union had advocated for policy change during the election campaign.
When prodded on whether he'd vote against a coalition with the SPD if there was no policy change, Winkel responded, "Anything else would echo the saying 'Power for power's sake.' A government with a CDU chancellor but SPD policies would bolster the AfD even further."
CDU's federal parliamentarian Saskia Ludwig from Potsdam voiced her discontent with the course of the coalition negotiations. "During the election campaign, we clearly declared that we aim for a return to a liberal-bourgeois policy," she told "Tagesspiegel" on Monday. "From my perspective, this promise isn't being upheld at present." Key demands include a rejection of tax hikes, a tight migration policy, and an "honest assessment" of pandemic protective measures.
Ludwig would not back a coalition agreement that doesn't cater to these demands. Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) called on fellow party members to stay calm amidst falling poll numbers.
SPD leader Saskia Esken acknowledged the union's need to score points on migration, stating, "Of course, we must make points on both sides. The union and SPD must collaborate closely to demonstrate their commitment to controlling irregular migration."
Coalition teams met again on Monday at the Bavarian representation in Berlin for the next round of talks. Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister President, started the meeting on an optimistic note: "I am very optimistic that we could wrap this up this week." She emphasized the importance of checking the agreement's affordability and assessing its potential economic impact.
Baerbel Bas, SPD parliamentarian and former Bundestag President, also expressed optimism before the union-SPD talks. "I assume so" she replied when asked if this was the decisive week. Both Bas and Schwesig belong to the main negotiating group of the coalition talks.
Martin Huber, CSU General Secretary, said in the ARD that it's now crucial "to reach the finishing line." The parties have made commendable progress in their discussions.
- Stressful negotiations
- Coalition agreement
- Friedrich Merz
- Young Union
- CDU
- Coalition deal
- AfD
- Coalition discussions
- SPD
- CSU
- Stable government
[1] "Germany's new government: What's in the coalition agreement?" BBC News. 2025, March 17. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61356638
[2] "Germany's new government: What's in the coalition agreement?" DW. 2025, March 17. https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-new-government-whats-in-the-coalition-agreement/a-61691697
- The Young Union, led by Johannes Winkel, has conditioned their approval of the coalition agreement on significant policy changes in finance, economics, and migration, as promised during the election campaign.
- Saskia Ludwig, a CDU federal parliamentarian, has expressed discontent with the coalition negotiations, stating that the promised return to a liberal-bourgeois policy isn't being upheld, with key demands including a rejection of tax hikes, a tight migration policy, and an honest assessment of pandemic protective measures.
- Manuela Schwesig, SPD's Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister President, started the coalition team meeting on an optimistic note, emphasizing the importance of checking the affordability and potential economic impact of the coalition agreement.
