CDU
Christian Democratic Union · centre-right · Christian-democratic / conservative / market-oriented
Our analysis · imported snapshot
A competitive, orderly and secure Germany built around the social market economy, stronger defence, tighter migration control and incentives for work and investment.[6]
22.6%2025 vote
208Union group seats · 8 Sep 2026
21%*Sep 2026 Union poll
Merzparty chair / Chancellor
What it wants to change
Party says · 2025 manifesto
- Economy: lower business taxation toward a maximum 25%, remove the remaining solidarity surcharge, reduce bureaucracy and make overtime supplements tax-free.[6]
- Welfare: replace Bürgergeld with a stricter “Neue Grundsicherung” based more strongly on “Fördern und Fordern”.[6]
- Migration: more border controls and rejections, faster returns, third-country asylum approaches, suspension of family reunification for subsidiary protection.[6]
- Energy & climate: cheaper electricity, renewables and grids, emissions trading and “technology openness”; repeal/replace the previous heating-law approach and keep nuclear technology as an option.[6]
- Security: higher defence capacity, growing conscription model, continued support for Ukraine including weapons.[6]
In one sentence: the CDU wants to move Germany toward a more market-oriented, security-focused and migration-restrictive version of the post-war social-market model rather than toward a smaller welfare state altogether.[7]
Following, strongholds & government footprint
The CDU is unusually geographically broad. bpb notes its durable strength among older voters and practising Christians; its historic roots are particularly strong in many western/southern and rural or Christian-democratic regions. It won 29.7% in Baden-Württemberg and 31.0% in Rhineland-Palatinate state elections in March 2026.[8]
Today: Friedrich Merz is Chancellor. CDU, CSU and SPD form the federal government. CDU/CSU together hold 208 Bundestag seats.[2][3]