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Germany’s CDU party congress begins: Programme for ‘post-Merkel’ era to be announced

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Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) will gather for a three-day party congress on 6 May to lay the foundations for their new programme in the post-Merkel era and to launch their European election campaign.

On the first day, the CDU, which is currently leading in the polls with around 30 per cent, will also elect its new leader, possibly consolidating the position of Friedrich Merz.

The following day, the Christian Democrats will adopt a new manifesto, the core programme outlining the party’s basic political principles. This dates back to 2007, when then-Chancellor Merkel, who declined an invitation to attend the party conference, was still at the helm of the CDU.

New phase in fight against migration

This [programme change] will be the fourth in the history of the CDU in Germany,’ CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann told a press conference in Berlin on Sunday. It will be historic and important,’ he said.

According to Linnemann, the new programme aims to move away from Merkel’s more ‘centrist’ line and strengthen the party’s conservative image, especially when it comes to migration and energy policy, as ‘mistakes have been made’ in the past.

According to the CDU, which says in its new programme that it wants to ‘regain control of migration’, migration should be reduced to a level that ‘does not overburden Germany’s integration capacity and at the same time fulfils our humanitarian responsibility’.

The Christian Democrats continue to distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ refugees, arguing that all but those ‘in need of protection’ should be ‘turned back at the EU’s external borders’.

The CDU is therefore ‘in favour of a fundamental change in European asylum law’.

A ‘bigger and safer’ energy supply

When it comes to energy, the main programme is to create a ‘larger and more secure energy supply’ for industry.

There are fears that energy-intensive German industry will move abroad, and that the country will become less attractive to foreign investors.

Many in the party are still angry that Merkel is accelerating the nuclear phase-out. Merkel’s legacy stirs controversyBut some in the party are not happy with this change of course.

Many people who voted for the CDU under Merkel are now out of reach,” Daniel Günther, the CDU state chancellor of Schleswig-Holstein, told the Funke media group.

Günther’s comments were immediately criticised by Johannes Winkel, federal chairman of the CDU/CSU youth organisation Junge Union. In a letter quoted by the Bild newspaper, Winkel wrote: “I am astonished and angry. Because I didn’t realise until now that you are a politician who thinks backwards and lives in the past. Of course the CDU owes a great deal to Angela Merkel. But Angela Merkel also owes a lot to the CDU,” he said.

In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, CDU politician and former chancellor-designate Armin Laschet also advocated a ‘forward-looking’ course for his party: ‘We must carry the honour of our long periods of government with confidence, not through Angela Merkel, Helmut Kohl or anyone else. During the election campaign, voters are asking us: What does the CDU want today? Not how Mrs Merkel’s term in office went,’ he said.

A cautious approach to the former chancellor

On the other hand, Merkel is still very popular with the public and within the party, making it difficult for the leadership to be overly critical of her political legacy.

We will continue to make mistakes in the future,” Linnemann said, rejecting the impression that everything is now being blamed on Merkel.

Linnemann said they “absolutely do not want to separate from one person”. Rather, he said, the basic programme is about showing ways to ‘give the country courage and optimism’ for the next 10 or 15 years.

Discussion of ‘Islam’ in the manifesto

The debate on the new manifesto has been going on within the party for two years, and many amendments have been proposed by members.

One of the most important issues is the place of Islam in Germany.

Muslims who share our values belong in Germany,’ the draft programme originally said. Critics of this statement argued that it would ‘marginalise’ other population groups.

The drafting committee came up with a new wording, changing the first sentence to read: ‘Muslims are part of Germany’s religious diversity and part of our society.

It also emphasises that an Islam that does not share Germany’s ‘values’ and ‘rejects liberal society’ ‘does not belong in Germany’.

But this statement is also likely to be the subject of debate at the party conference.

Declaration of war on free Europe

The third day of the congress is dedicated to the upcoming elections to the European Parliament (EP).

Today we are also … starting the hot phase of our European election campaign,” said Daniel Caspary, leader of the CDU/CSU group in the EP, on Sunday.

While the party is in favour of increasing Europe’s competitiveness, the CDU’s election campaign will focus on security. According to Caspary, Europe must ‘defend its freedom’ against the war in Ukraine.

Putin’s war of aggression is also an open declaration of war against free Europe. For years he has been waging a hybrid offensive against us Europeans. That’s why Ukraine is also fighting for our freedom,’ said Caspary.

The CDU also wants to increase Europe’s capabilities through a ‘defence union’ and a defence commissioner, echoing the proposal of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and CDU candidate for the CDU list.

According to Caspary, this EP election will be a “turning point”. The CDU politician said they wanted a strong ‘pro-European’ awakening and were ‘in favour of a Europe on an equal footing with the rest of the world’.

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Netherlands to introduce border controls starting December 9

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The Dutch Ministry of Migration has announced that border controls will be introduced along land borders with other EU Schengen area countries and on certain flights within the Schengen zone starting December 9.

These six-month border controls are part of a broader immigration policy shift proposed by the right-wing coalition led by Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV), known for its anti-immigration stance.

Migration Minister Marjolein Faber introduced the policy through an official press release following its approval by the Council of Ministers. Faber, representing the PVV, stated, “It is time to take concrete action against irregular migration and people smuggling. That is why we will reintroduce border controls in the Netherlands starting in December.”

The border control measures will officially take effect on December 9. The Netherlands asserts that this decision complies with EU law, which requires member states to notify Brussels at least four weeks in advance when intending to restrict freedom of movement.

Earlier this year, Faber indicated to Brussels that the Netherlands also sought to opt-out of EU refugee obligations.

Geert Wilders, who led the PVV to victory in last year’s elections, celebrated this move on social media, emphasizing that the PVV has kept its promise. Wilders has long advocated for closing the Dutch borders to curb migration and strengthen national security.

Faber did not disclose specific details on how these border controls will be implemented. The plan does not allocate additional funding to the national police for these duties; instead, the six-month controls will rely on existing resources. Faber noted that the border checks should be conducted in a way that minimizes traffic disruption.

The Netherlands shares extensive land borders with Germany and Belgium, where police currently conduct spot checks. Last month, Germany implemented similar border checks with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Netherlands, citing concerns over extremist threats.

Both Germany and the Netherlands are part of the Schengen area, a border-free travel zone that includes most EU states along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Under EU law, member states are permitted to temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of serious security threats. However, the EU guidelines specify that such measures should be a last resort and strictly time-limited.

Following recent incidents involving Israeli football hooligans and Arab and Muslim communities in Amsterdam, the PVV and Wilders called for the deportation of migrants involved, asserting that irregular migration contributes to increased anti-Semitism.

‘Pogrom’ or ‘Zionist provocation’: What happened in Amsterdam?

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Agreement reached in Germany: Early elections scheduled for 23 February

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), along with opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), have agreed to hold early federal elections on 23 February.

To initiate the election process, Chancellor Scholz must first call for a vote of no confidence in the lower house of parliament. This vote is expected to take place in early December. If the chancellor loses the vote, he can request that the German president dissolve parliament and schedule elections within 60 days.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, was thrown into political uncertainty last week after Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party (FDP). This decision led to the collapse of the ruling coalition following a dispute over borrowing to bolster military support for Ukraine.

Initially, Scholz had proposed a no-confidence vote in January, with elections to follow “at the end of March.” However, representatives from the business community and members of the main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), pushed for an earlier date. They argued that elections in March would prolong the nation’s uncertainty and that a February vote would help restore political stability.

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Scholz negotiates early elections

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated his willingness to negotiate an earlier election date in exchange for opposition support on key legislation that could enable elections sooner than anticipated.

This represents a notable departure from Scholz’s previous statement on Wednesday, 6 November, when he announced plans to call a no-confidence vote on 15 January to ensure elections “by the end of March” after the coalition government dissolved.

On Friday, 8 November, Scholz emphasized that the democratic parties in the Bundestag should collaborate to determine which laws could be enacted by the end of the year.

“In light of a potential early election date, this agreement could clarify when it would be appropriate to initiate a vote of no confidence in the Bundestag,” Scholz stated at an informal EU summit in Budapest.

The Chancellor also stressed the need for a measured, calm approach to setting an election date. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz reported that Scholz had resisted calls for an immediate vote of confidence during their Thursday meeting.

While constitutional law does not compel Scholz to call a vote of no confidence before the scheduled election date of 28 September 2025, the minority government’s ability to pass critical legislation is contingent on opposition votes.

Scholz declined to specify whether there are particular legislative priorities that would prompt him to advocate for early elections.

Following Scholz’s statement, Germany’s Federal Electoral Office issued a caution against early elections. Its head, Ruth Brand, warned that setting “dates and deadlines” around Christmas or New Year’s Eve would make essential election preparations “nearly impossible.”

By law, any snap election must occur within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament or 21 days after a vote of no confidence.

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