The CDU will hold its first party conference since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office, beginning Friday morning in Stuttgart. The two-day meeting is set to define the party’s direction ahead of key reform decisions this year. Merz is also expected to be confirmed as CDU party chairman, with the vote by around 1,000 delegates seen as an important test of his leadership after nine months in office.
A year after his election victory, Friedrich Merz arrives at the party meeting amid low approval ratings, unfulfilled campaign promises, and growing pressure from the far right. Among the notable attendees will be former chancellor Angela Merkel, his predecessor and long-time party rival.
Merz, 70, has sought to steer the CDU back toward conservative positions, distancing himself from Merkel’s more liberal legacy, including her decision to admit over a million migrants. However, he now confronts challenges at home, including a sluggish economy, poor popularity figures, and competition from the AfD ahead of several regional elections.
After winning the February 2025 election, Merz took office last May in a coalition with the SPD under former chancellor Olaf Scholz. He had promised to revitalize the economy, curb irregular migration, strengthen Germany’s defence, and elevate Germany’s global role.
Internationally, Merz has stood out for strong support for Ukraine, increased NATO defence spending, and maintaining dialogue with U.S. President Donald Trump. Domestically, however, his economic plans have faced hurdles, including fallout from U.S. tariffs. With GDP growth expected at only one percent, business leaders have demanded a “genuine reform programme” with cuts to taxes, welfare spending, and bureaucracy.
The 1,001 delegates will vote on more than 280 motions covering a broad range of issues, including:
A revised motion from the CDU’s business wing, now titled “Regulating Part-Time Entitlements – Strengthening Employment”, is already under discussion. Meanwhile, a proposal from the CDU’s Economic Council to eliminate dental service reimbursement by statutory health insurance has drawn criticism.
The conference theme, “Responsibility entails obligations,” will open with an address by Manuel Hagel, the CDU’s lead candidate in the Baden-Württemberg state election. Hagel expressed confidence, saying the party is “more united and determined” than it has been in years. He pointed to the attendance of all living former party leaders, including Merkel, as proof of renewed unity.
Despite efforts to unify the party, Merz continues to face internal and public criticism. Polls have at times placed the AfD ahead of the CDU/CSU bloc, and a recent INSA survey found Merz less popular than Scholz, whom he previously mocked for lacking charisma.
Many CDU members are frustrated, citing reasons such as:
Merz has also drawn backlash for blunt remarks, including questioning whether Germans still deserve their reputation as hard workers. His harder line on immigration, tightening borders and ending accelerated naturalisation, has sparked debate over whether this risks alienating centrist voters without winning over AfD supporters.
Despite the challenges, Merz appears confident about his future. “I intend to continue doing this for quite some time,” he said this week, noting that his father recently turned 102.
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