CDU softens stance on migration, funding, and economic policy in key resolutions
The CDU federal party congress in Rostock has adopted a series of softened resolutions after intense internal debate. Originally strict proposals on public funding, migration and economic policy were scaled back before the January 22, 2026 gathering. Delegates faced diluted motions on key issues following last-minute revisions by the resolutions committee.
A demand from the CDU Niedersachsen branch to restrict state funding only to groups explicitly affirming Germany's liberal democratic order was significantly weakened. The final text now requires organisations to merely distance themselves from anti-constitutional efforts, dropping the explicit affirmation rule. Instead, it calls for case-by-case reviews and vaguely states that programmes should promote democratic education and counter extremism. The requirement for party-political neutrality in subsidised groups was also removed.
On migration, the committee reversed a proposal to extend border pushbacks to the EU's external frontiers. The revised resolution no longer includes this measure, though it still urges the CDU/CSU parliamentary group to explore an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights for improved border security.
Economic policy saw similar adjustments. A motion to limit spending from the €500 billion infrastructure modernisation fund strictly to growth-focused projects was softened. The approved version now only states that such expenditures should be prioritised, without binding restrictions.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz had earlier rejected calls for bold moves to break Germany's political deadlock, signalling resistance to far-reaching changes ahead of the congress.
The resolutions committee defused all major points of contention before they reached the conference floor. Delegates will now vote on watered-down texts covering funding rules, migration and economic policy. The final versions remove strict mandates in favour of broader, less binding recommendations.
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