Eighteen members of the CDU’s local branch in Kühlungsborn, Germany, have resigned from the party, citing the abandonment of the debt brake and the inclusion of climate neutrality as a state goal in the constitution.
In a statement on the CDU’s Kühlungsborn website, the members claimed that the debt brake, a fundamental principle of the CDU, had been effectively abolished, resulting in additional debt of one billion euros, with severe consequences for the country. They also criticized the inclusion of climate neutrality as a state goal, saying it was a matter for democratic debate, not the constitution.
The resignation is also attributed to the perceived lack of commitment by the party’s leader, Friedrich Merz, to limit illegal migration and to address the heating cost law. The members believe that the party has broken its election promises and the positions taken during the campaign were barely represented in the coalition negotiations.
The statement concludes that the members see no other option but to end their membership with immediate effect, expressing gratitude for the past cooperation and wishing the CDU better luck in the coalition negotiations to prevent further departures.