Stephan Toscani elected CDU lead candidate for Saarland

Stephan Toscani has been elected as the lead candidate (Spitzenkandidat) for the CDU in Saarland for the upcoming state election on April 18, 2027. At a party assembly in Eppelborn, Toscani received 91.3 percent of the votes, securing his position to lead the party's campaign.

In his acceptance speech, Toscani expressed a desire to reclaim the state chancery from the current SPD-led government under Minister President Anke Rehlinger. He emphasized the need for economic strength and job creation, drawing a comparison to the rise of SV Elversberg to the Bundesliga to illustrate his goal of making the region an ‘upgrader land’ for the economy.

Toscani also signaled a distinction between regional interests and the federal government in Berlin, noting that ‘headwinds’ for the state come from both the state chancery and the capital. His proposed platform includes reducing bureaucracy, making master craftsman training free, requiring German language proficiency for school access, and introducing a state care allowance for home-based nursing.