Dennis Radtke, the head of the CDU’s workers wing, cautioned the party delegates at the Christian Democratic congress against launching a leadership debate ahead of the upcoming re‑election of Chancellor Friedrich Merz as party chairman. “We can’t afford a leadership debate” he told the Editorial Network Germany, noting the growing discontent within the party about the chancellor and the coalition.

When asked if he expected a setback for Merz in the forthcoming board election, Radtke replied: “I don’t think so. The CDU is a very disciplined party, and it does nothing to cool the leadership out of a whim. That would look better for other parties than for the CDU”.