CDU appoints new parliamentary leader as eastern state premiers demand policy shift ahead of elections
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany has completed a significant personnel reshuffle within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), with the appointment of Thorsten Frei as the new leader of the Union faction. This move comes after a period of intense discussion within the party, which took place during the summer break.
According to Marco Reinke, a reporter for WELT, the appointment of Thorsten Frei has temporarily calmed the waters within the party, but the big question is how long this calm will last. The personnel changes come at a critical time for the CDU, as the party faces significant policy challenges and upcoming elections.
The party is grappling with issues such as pension reforms and healthcare policies, which have sparked resistance within the party ranks. The three eastern German CDU state premiers — Sven Schulze from Sachsen-Anhalt, Mario Voigt from Thüringen, and Michael Kretschmer from Sachsen — have called on the federal government to consider the perspective of the eastern states more strongly in the upcoming social reforms.
In a joint statement to the German Press Agency, they wrote, "Whoever wants to know how structural change succeeds and where it fails will find the answers here. That is exactly why taking the East German perspective into account is a gain for all of Germany."
The state premiers are particularly opposed to the proposal to abolish the pension without deductions after 45 years of contributions, as recommended by the Pensions Commission. "Anyone who has paid in for 45 years has paid in enough. We will not give up this principle," they wrote in their joint statement.
In addition to internal party dynamics and policy challenges, the CDU is also preparing for important state elections in September. These elections in Sachsen-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin will be crucial for the party's future direction and influence.
Follow us for live European news
- 5
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
1 further source not geolocated


