Overview

• The two-day caucus entered its final day in Würzburg with a joint media appearance by Jens Spahn, Matthias Miersch and Alexander Hoffmann scheduled for the afternoon.
• Unionsfraktionschef Jens Spahn urged cohesion, saying the partners are obliged to succeed together and calling for better teamwork, communication and focus on the coalition agreement.
• SPD-Fraktionschef Matthias Miersch reported an honest exchange, pressed for lessons from July’s failed judge vote and stressed the need to secure a two‑thirds majority with support beyond the coalition.
• Leaders prepared for contentious tasks this autumn, including federal budgets for 2025 and 2026 and difficult welfare reforms, with tax and Bürgergeld debates still unresolved.
• The retreat opened with a unity photo on the Main bridge, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined for security policy discussions.