Merz-Show: Does the Party Congress Give Hagel the Final Push? - CDU's Stuttgart rally backs Hagel amid poll slump and internal strife
The CDU held its federal party conference in Stuttgart over the weekend to rally support for Manuel Hagel, its lead candidate in Baden-Württemberg. The event aimed to strengthen his campaign ahead of the state election, where he hopes to become the youngest premier in history. But internal debates and a shrinking poll lead have left some party members uneasy.
The conference was designed to project unity and boost Hagel's profile. Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly backed him, calling the 38-year-old the future premier of the southwest. Hagel used the platform to position himself as a moderate alternative, contrasting his stance with the radicalism of the AfD and the ideology of the Greens.
Yet the event also exposed tensions. A proposal from the CDU's economic wing triggered nationwide criticism, complicating the campaign in Baden-Württemberg. Strategists later admitted the debates had backfired but claimed the controversy would fade without lasting damage to the polls.
The CDU's grip on the state has weakened since the last Landtag election, where the Greens narrowly edged ahead with 30.7% compared to the CDU's 29.7%. Recent national polling shows the Greens rising to 15%—up three points—while the SPD fell to 12%. The CDU/CSU still leads the AfD, but the gap is tightening. Factors like Cem Özdemir's popularity, economic struggles in the state, and broader national shifts have added pressure.
Hagel's media presence has grown, but the CDU's campaign faces challenges. The party's internal divisions and slipping poll numbers suggest a tighter race ahead. Whether the conference's show of strength will translate into votes remains to be seen.
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