Overview

• The CDU presidium opened a two‑day strategy meeting in Berlin, with results due at a Monday press conference.
• Merz declared there will be no cooperation under his chairmanship and cast the AfD as the main opponent in upcoming campaigns.
• He rejected calls for a party‑ban procedure, saying legal hurdles are very high and advocating policy confrontation and better offers to voters.
• The 2018 resolution against coalitions and similar cooperation remains in force, with Merz saying CDU motions may still pass even if the AfD concurs.
• Internal voices urge softening the stance while top CDU/CSU figures back Merz, the SPD demands a clear pledge as a governing condition, and polls show the AfD at 25–27% nationally and near 40% in parts of the east.