The Young Union began its three-day “Deutschlandtag” on Friday. Johannes Winkel, the chairman of the joint CDU and CSU youth organization, called upon the Union to undergo a period of renewal. He stated that while the Union does not need to be completely rebuilt, it must at least clarify its position. Winkel criticized the prevailing self-description, arguing that merely stating, “We are the center,” is an empty thesis devoid of supporting arguments. He stated that the current ambiguity of the center “simply does not work anymore.”
Winkel further criticized the CDU, asserting that its policy initiatives felt stuck in the mindset of 2010. He argued that major societal and structural changes have been overlooked beneath the surface in recent years, noting that the last 15 years have witnessed numerous other turning points that have dramatically altered the nation, which he refers to as “silent turning points.” He insists that the center must now be redefined.
For Winkel, this redefinition must begin with a fresh approach to family policy, as he noted that he could not recall any recent campaign in the last 15 years where families and young families were genuinely placed at the forefront. His demand is for a Union that is centrally positioned, but whose definition is not arbitrary, avoiding trends that pull it unnecessarily toward either the left or the right. He believes that such a defined center would allow the Union to continue its history as Germany’s most successful party.
During the event, Hendrik Wüst, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, also spoke. Wüst called on the party youth to halt the ongoing negotiations between the Greens, the SPD, and the Left in Berlin, and he strongly condemned the AfD, labeling it an ally of enemies of Germany and enemies of Europe. Addressing the national government, Wüst urged them to “pull themselves together” and finally implement their established decisions.
