Chancellor Merz to address CDU state conference ahead of 2027 election

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has unexpectedly announced his attendance at the CDU's state party conference in Düsseldorf on Saturday, a gathering focused on preparing for the 2027 state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. The conference, described internally as a "working party congress," will see Merz address around 680 delegates. While the report from State Chairman and Minister-President Hendrik Wüst was initially the central focus, attention is now expected to shift to Merz, especially following the federal government's recent large reform package.

The delegates from the CDU's largest state association are gathering ideas for the election program in thematic forums. However, the program itself will not be finalized until a party conference in spring 2027, at which point the lead candidate will also be chosen, widely expected to be Wüst again. This comes after weeks of speculation in late May about a potential shift in federal leadership from Merz to Wüst, which Wüst dismissed as "nonsense" while reaffirming his full support for Merz.

“

Nonsense

Adding to the pre-election dynamics, a recent WDR poll indicates potential losses for Minister-President Wüst's CDU. The poll suggests the current black-green coalition in North Rhine-Westphalia could still maintain its majority. The CDU registered 32 percent in the survey, a 3-point drop from early February and below the 35.7 percent achieved in the 2022 state election. The Greens, however, are projected to gain 2 points to reach 15 percent. Satisfaction with Wüst's government performance stands at 42 percent, with 40 percent expressing dissatisfaction. Nationally, the CDU's support in polls hovers between 22 and 24 percent.

“

He assured Merz of his full support.