CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann expressed concerns about a potential wave of departures from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) due to increasing dissatisfaction within its own ranks. According to reports citing high-ranking party circles, Linnemann disclosed the issue during the CDU’s presidium meeting last Monday. He reported a significant number of membership exits this year, estimating a drop of several tens of thousands of members. Linnemann allegedly suggested that if this trend continues, the CDU could lose 50,000 members by the end of the current legislative period.
While Linnemann himself declined to comment on the statements when approached by the publication, party sources indicated that the membership decline figure was presented as a worst-case projection. Nonetheless, sources within the party admitted that the current situation is linked to factors such as the unpopular federal government and the presence of CDU leader Friedrich Merz. It was noted that the year 2026 has not been a strong year for the membership balance.
This decline stands in contrast to recent positive developments. In 2024, the CDU recorded over 20,000 new memberships, which allowed it to surpass the SPD as the party with the largest membership base. This growth was also credited to Merz for successfully pressuring the coalition government as the opposition leader.