Overview

• The SPD has reaffirmed its support for nominee Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, who refuses to withdraw and has publicly rejected claims that she is “ultralinks.”
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz has downplayed any urgency over the postponed vote, saying the coalition will address the issue “in Ruhe” in Parliament.
• Union and SPD officials will hold internal talks through the summer break to marshal the two-thirds majority needed when the Bundestag reconvenes.
• The SPD has proposed personal meetings between Brosius-Gersdorf and CDU/CSU MPs to clear doubts fueled by a right-wing smear campaign linked to an AfD strategy paper.
• CDU/CSU leaders, including Jens Spahn and Hendrik Hoppenstedt, have admitted shortcomings in vetting and called for stronger internal discipline on personnel proposals.