Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
CDU begins leadership talks to address election losses and falling support
Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is holding a two-day leadership meeting in Berlin after a series of poor election results and a sharp fall in national polling.
In September, it lost almost 20 percentage points in Saxony-Anhalt, fell to second place in Berlin and, for the first time in its history, won no seats in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s state parliament.
The party is polling below 20 percent in several surveys, compared with 28.5 percent at the 2025 federal election.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who also leads the CDU, is facing pressure as the party considers what the results mean for its direction.
General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann said the meeting was not a quick solution but the start of work inside the party and government.
Leaders are expected to discuss the party’s policies, public image and leadership, including how to address issues such as living costs, security, migration and jobs.
The CDU plans to present the meeting’s results at a news conference on Monday afternoon.
The CDU began a two-day leadership meeting in Berlin to discuss its election losses and falling support.
Secretary-General Franziska Hoppermann said the meeting was the start of a process, not a quick fix.
The party is responding to three state-election setbacks in September and national opinion poll ratings below 20 percent.
The discussions are due to cover the party’s programme, profile and leadership, as well as how to regain voters’ trust.
Senior CDU figures disagree over whether the party should take a more conservative course.
- Who
- The CDU leadership, including Secretary-General Franziska Hoppermann and party leader Friedrich Merz.
- What
- The party began a two-day meeting to discuss election losses, low support and its future direction.
- When
- The meeting began on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- Berlin.
- Why
- The CDU is seeking a way to recover after poor state-election results and national poll ratings below 20 percent.
Boris Rhein
Karin Prien
Party’s political direction
Boris Rhein
Rhein called for a more conservative course.
Karin Prien
Prien said the CDU had become too conservative in recent years and that this was part of the problem.
The CDU lost almost 20 percentage points in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
The CDU was voted out of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament for the first time and lost its leading position in Berlin to the Left.
The CDU leadership began its two-day meeting in Berlin.
Merz and Hoppermann are due to present the meeting’s results at a news conference after further party meetings.
- Meeting
- Two-day CDU leadership talks
- Location
- Berlin
- National polling
- Below 20 percent in several polls
- 2025 federal election
- CDU/Union won 28.5 percent
- State-election setback
- CDU lost almost 20 percentage points in Saxony-Anhalt
- Berlin result
- The Left displaced the CDU from first place
What people are saying
This is not the one miracle weapon, but the beginning of a process that we are starting both in the federal government and in government policy as well as in the party.
It is about returning to our former strength and underpinning our claim to be a party of the people.
That is part of the problem.
Sources
Related news
Bärbel Bas to leave German labour ministry and SPD leadership
BMW withdraws car lease offer for new parliament president in Saxony-Anhalt
SPD and Left back coalition talks with Greens in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Bärbel Bas resigns as German labour minister and SPD co-chair
Nine Union state ministers oppose Germany’s planned sugar tax
North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul breaks hip in fall
Weimer warns SPD against coalition with the Left in Berlin
SPD in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern backs coalition talks with Greens and Left
Bavarian SPD district calls for Gerhard Schröder’s expulsion
Experts urge EU to prepare stronger trade measures against China
Bärbel Bas resigns as Germany's labor minister and SPD co-chair
