Politics · Germany · 4 hrs ago
Junge Union leaders challenge weakened Merz as party meets in Bonn
The Young Union met in Bonn as the CDU and CSU face a crisis in their standing and authority.
Its leader, Johannes Winkel, was re-elected with 265 of 283 valid votes, a result the reports put at either 94.3% or 94.6%.
North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wüst spoke before Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was due to address the gathering on Saturday.
Merz has lost authority after poor polling and a series of state election defeats in September, as well as a clash with the Young Union over a pension package last year.
Winkel said the Union must change and firmly rejected cooperation with the AfD, citing its positions and members.
Wüst criticised talks in Berlin involving the Left, Greens and Social Democrats after the Left’s election win there, calling them a disgrace to the capital.
Merz’s speech is the next test at a meeting where Wüst and CSU leader Markus Söder are also seen as possible successors, though Winkel said it was not a leadership contest.
The Junge Union met in Bonn as its leader, Johannes Winkel, called for a new direction for the struggling CDU and CSU.
Winkel was re-elected JU chairman with 265 of 283 valid votes, according to the vote count cited by t-online and Handelsblatt.
He criticized Manuela Schwesig over her allegations about the CDU’s treatment of Bärbel Bas and called for the party not to be lectured on political conduct.
Winkel also ruled out cooperation with the AfD while it holds what he called “völkisch” positions and includes extremists.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz was expected to address the gathering on Saturday, after recent electoral setbacks and poor poll ratings weakened his authority within the party.
- Who
- The Junge Union, led by Johannes Winkel, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- What
- The CDU and CSU youth organisation held its Deutschlandtag as Winkel was re-elected and senior figures addressed the party’s direction.
- When
- The meeting opened on Friday, 16 October 2026. Merz was expected to speak on Saturday.
- Where
- Bonn, Germany.
- Why
- The sources describe a meeting during a crisis for the Union, with Winkel seeking a signal of renewal and Merz facing questions about his weakened authority.
Johannes Winkel
Manuela Schwesig
Allegations over the CDU’s treatment of Bärbel Bas
Johannes Winkel
Winkel rejected Schwesig’s allegations that the CDU had acted inhumanely, saying there had been no attacks and that consideration had been promised for a private bereavement.
Manuela Schwesig
Schwesig accused the CDU of treating Bas inhumanely after the death of her stepdaughter.
Political conduct
Johannes Winkel
Winkel said Schwesig should focus on the AfD and said he would not be lectured by her on decency and political standards.
Manuela Schwesig
Schwesig criticised the CDU’s conduct toward Bas; her response to Winkel’s remarks is not reported.
Winkel was first elected JU chairman with 87.0 percent of delegate votes, according to t-online and Handelsblatt.
Winkel was re-elected with 90.5 percent of delegate votes, according to t-online and Handelsblatt.
The JU Deutschlandtag opened in Bonn, and Winkel was re-elected chairman.
Merz was expected to address the gathering on Saturday morning.
CSU leader Markus Söder was scheduled to attend the Deutschlandtag.
- Location
- Bonn, Germany
- Winkel’s age
- 34
- Winkel’s vote count
- 265 of 283 valid votes, according to t-online and Handelsblatt
- Winkel’s reported re-election share
- 94.3% in t-online and Handelsblatt; Bild reported 94.31%, while n-tv reported 94.6%
- Earlier vote share
- 90.5% in 2024, according to t-online and Handelsblatt
12 sources
JU-Chef Winkel kontert Schwesig - „Fata Morgana der unmenschlichen Angriffe“
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.
As long as the AfD takes völkisch positions and brings extremists into its ranks, we will not work with this party.
We will certainly not let Manuela Schwesig lecture us on decency and attitude in German politics.
The negotiations in Berlin with the aim of bringing the Left Party to power are a disgrace for the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany.