Internal divisions are emerging within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) ahead of a meeting of party committees chaired by federal leader Friedrich Merz next Monday. Concerns have been voiced regarding the outcome of the most recent coalition committee deliberations, signaling potential friction within the governing alliance.
Speaking to the Tagesspiegel, Dennis Radtke, a member of the CDU executive board and leader of the CDA, representing the party’s worker-focused wing, expressed disappointment, stating that the recent developments had “unfortunately cost trust”. He urged the coalition to “work on this and deliver”. Radtke specifically called for Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) to swiftly present proposals for financing upcoming measures.
While acknowledging that the recently approved “mothers’ pension” aimed to address a specific inequity, Radtke argued that numerous such discrepancies exist. He suggested that broader relief measures would have generated a more significant impact.
Furthermore, Radtke critiqued the party’s strategic approach, noting that expectations were heightened during the election campaign and through commitments made in the coalition agreement. He suggested that a significant portion of the German population would have been content with a stable government capable of fulfilling international obligations and navigating foreign policy challenges without incident.
Radtke emphasized that the state of public finances – a known factor during debates surrounding the debt brake – had been well understood. He characterized the current situation as a “prioritization mess” that has led to disappointment among many.
