CDU deputy general secretary Christina Stumpp to step down

The CDU is undergoing leadership changes following recent electoral challenges. Christina Stumpp will step down as deputy general secretary on September 21, 2026, after four years in the role. Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz has proposed Michael Hose, a member of the Bundestag from Thuringia, as her interim successor. Merz stated that this move aims to better represent the unity of East and West Germany within the party leadership.

This reshuffle occurs amid significant political pressure on Friedrich Merz. Recent polling by Insa indicates that 78 percent of respondents no longer view him as the right Chancellor, with even a majority of CDU/CSU voters expressing disapproval. Additionally, the CDU is facing electoral difficulties in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where party leaders have described the current situation as an 'existential struggle' and are attempting to distance the regional campaign from federal politics.

In broader political discussions, CDU lawmaker Thorsten Frei has suggested using 'federal compulsion' as a last resort should an AfD-led state government in Saxony-Anhalt act against the constitution. Meanwhile, businessman Theo Müller has publicly supported the AfD's success in Saxony-Anhalt, calling it a 'stroke of luck' and advocating for a government that includes the party to address national issues.