Jens Spahn retains CDU leadership but faces eroding party support
Jens Spahn has secured another term as leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, but his support has weakened. The vote revealed growing dissatisfaction within the party, with one in five lawmakers refusing to back him. His approval fell to 86.5 percent, down from 91.3 percent in his previous election.
The ballot saw 167 votes in favour of Spahn, while 26 opposed him and three abstained. Despite facing no rival candidate, only 80 percent of the full 208-member group supported his leadership. Critics pointed to past errors, including his failed bid for chancellor and cancelled judicial appointments.
Spahn’s time as health minister also drew scrutiny, particularly over nearly €6 billion spent on mask procurement, which many deemed reckless. The result reflects wider frustration in the Union, especially over the chancellor’s lack of reforms. With the party now trailing the far-right AfD in polls, pressure is mounting. The outcome is seen as more than a warning—it could push Chancellor Friedrich Merz toward a confidence vote. Merz, who also leads the CDU, may face the next major challenge as internal tensions grow.
Spahn remains in charge but with diminished backing. The vote highlights deeper unease in the Union, raising questions about future leadership. The party’s struggles in polls and internal divisions suggest further turbulence ahead.
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