Concerns are emerging regarding the trajectory of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) following the appointment of Jens Spahn as parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag. Katharina Dröge, one of the Green Party’s parliamentary group chairs, voiced anxieties in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, expressing worry over what she perceives as a shift in the CDU’s political positioning.
Dröge noted a perceived “fascination” within Spahn’s approach to politics, referencing close ties to the Republican Party in the United States and drawing parallels to the policies of former U.S. President Donald Trump. She cautioned that such alignment risks pulling the CDU away from its traditional center ground, urging that this direction does not become entrenched within the conservative bloc.
The Green Party politician’s concerns stem, in part, from Spahn’s handling of the recent selection process for a judge at the Federal Constitutional Court, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. Dröge criticized the Union’s perceived swift concession to protests surrounding Brosius-Gersdorf’s candidacy, suggesting that it demonstrated a vulnerability to external pressure. She warned that this precedent could have far-reaching consequences beyond the judicial appointment.
Dirk Wiese, parliamentary group director for the Social Democratic Party (SPD), also expressed surprise at Spahn’s assumption of the parliamentary group leadership role, noting the decision by Friedrich Merz to relinquish the position. Wiese suggested the move could be indicative of emerging dynamics regarding potential successors to Merz, though he emphasized that this remains an internal matter for the Union to resolve.
