Overview

• A faction within the CDU, led by regional leaders like Christian Große, is pushing for a members' vote on the coalition contract, citing concerns about internal representation and trust in party processes.
• While some CDU leaders, such as Jan Redmann, are open to the idea of a members' vote, others like Steffen Bilger argue it is unnecessary and not widely supported within the party.
• Critics suggest the SPD's use of a members' vote is a negotiation tactic, and some CDU members view replicating this process as politically motivated rather than essential.
• Youth and regional factions, including the Thüringer Junge Union, are demanding a strong CDU imprint in the coalition agreement, particularly on migration policy and bureaucracy reduction.
• Final coalition negotiations between the CDU/Union and SPD are in advanced stages, with plans for internal consultations to present the agreement to party members later this month.