Politics · Germany · 4 hrs ago
Merz faces confident Junge Union as CDU struggles
The Junge Union, the youth wing of Germany’s CDU and CSU, met in Bonn as its party faces a deep crisis.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz was due to address the gathering after losing authority in his party following state election defeats and poor poll ratings.
Junge Union leader Johannes Winkel was re-elected with 94.3% support, higher than his result in 2024.
Winkel said the group would not work with the far-right AfD while it holds what he called far-right nationalist positions and includes extremists.
North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wüst criticised talks in Berlin aimed at bringing the Left party into government, calling them a disgrace.
Wüst received a standing ovation, adding to attention on possible successors to Merz.
Merz was expected to speak on Saturday, and CSU leader Markus Söder on Sunday, though Winkel said the gathering was not a contest to choose a future chancellor.
The Junge Union opened its Germany Day in Bonn amid a crisis for the CDU and declining authority for Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
JU leader Johannes Winkel was re-elected, with the sources reporting different approval figures of 94.3% and 94.6%.
Winkel called for a new direction for the CDU and said a party polling below 20% was in a serious crisis.
North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wüst urged optimism and criticised political opponents in his speech.
Merz was due to address the delegates on Saturday, after a difficult encounter with them the previous year.
- Who
- The Junge Union, led by Johannes Winkel, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Hendrik Wüst also spoke at the event.
- What
- The Junge Union held its Germany Day, where Winkel was re-elected and party leaders gave speeches.
- When
- The event opened on Friday, October 16, 2026. Merz was due to speak on Saturday.
- Where
- Bonn, Germany.
- Why
- The event brought together the CDU and CSU youth organisation during a period of crisis for the CDU and the wider Union.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Junge Union’s Germany Day opened in Bonn, and delegates re-elected Johannes Winkel as chairman.
Friedrich Merz was scheduled to address the delegates.
CSU leader Markus Söder was scheduled to speak at the event.
- Location
- Bonn, Germany
- JU chairman
- Johannes Winkel
- Winkel’s re-election
- 265 of 283 valid votes, according to Handelsblatt
- Approval rate
- Handelsblatt reported 94.3%; n-tv reported 94.6%
- CDU polling threshold cited by Winkel
- Below 20% was a serious crisis
- Scheduled speaker
- Friedrich Merz on Saturday morning
8 sources
Angezählter Kanzler trifft auf selbstbewusste Parteijugend
Junge Union: Angezählter Kanzler trifft auf selbstbewusste Parteijugend
Wüst und Winkel: Zwei Hoffnungsträger für eine Zukunft ohne Merz
What people are saying
Our generation still has a lot planned with this Union.
We will be the ones to successfully continue the history of the CDU and CSU as a people’s party.
As long as the AfD takes ethnic-nationalist positions and brings extremists into its ranks, we will not work with this party.
Keep your heads up, Germany.