Politics · Germany · 21 hrs ago
CDU faces calls for a change of course after election losses
The CDU, Germany’s governing conservative party, is facing calls to change course after poor results in state elections in September.
It lost power in Saxony-Anhalt and fell out of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s state parliament for the first time.
Deputy party leader Karin Prien says the party’s “CDU pure” approach under leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has failed.
She argues the CDU has become too conservative and should give greater weight to other parts of the party, including its Christian social tradition, education and equal opportunities for women.
Other CDU figures have also urged the party to work with the political center to address the country’s problems.
The party’s senior leaders are meeting in Berlin on Sunday and Monday to discuss its direction, its leadership and its poor polling.
The debate also includes whether the CDU should maintain its barrier against cooperation with the far-right AfD.
CDU deputy leader Karin Prien says the party’s “CDU pure” approach has failed and calls for a change of course.
Her criticism comes as the party faces pressure after poor results in September’s state elections and weak polling.
The CDU’s top figures are due to meet in Berlin on Sunday and Monday to discuss the party’s direction and leadership.
Prien says the party has become too conservative and should give greater weight to other wings, education and gender equality.
The debate also includes the CDU’s approach to the AfD and whether its policy of keeping the party at a distance should remain.
- Who
- CDU deputy leader Karin Prien is calling for a change of course; CDU leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure.
- What
- The CDU is facing calls to reconsider its political direction after election losses.
- When
- Prien spoke on October 9, 2026; the CDU leadership is due to meet on Sunday and Monday.
- Where
- The party meeting is in Berlin; the election losses cited were in eastern German states.
- Why
- The CDU lost government in Magdeburg and was removed from the Schwerin state parliament, while polling for the party and coalition was weak.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The approach 'CDU pur' has failed
I reject Boris Rhein's demand that the CDU should become more conservative. On the contrary, it has become too conservative in recent years, and that is part of the problem
The political centre has more than ever in these times the damned duty to solve the country's problems together
The CDU lost government responsibility in Magdeburg and, for the first time in its history, failed to enter the state parliament in Schwerin.
Karin Prien publicly called for a change in the CDU’s direction before its leadership meeting.
The CDU’s top figures are due to meet in Berlin to discuss the party’s future course and leadership.
- Party leader
- Friedrich Merz
- Critic
- Karin Prien, CDU deputy leader and federal minister for family affairs and education
- Meeting place
- Berlin
- Election losses
- CDU lost government responsibility in Magdeburg and left the Schwerin state parliament
- Meeting schedule
- Sunday through Monday morning
Sources
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