Re-election of the president Friedrich Mertzelection of the members of the federal presidium and the executive committee and approval of the basic program includes among other things the three-day congress of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) that begins today in Berlin.

With the party firmly at the top of the polls and close to 30%, Friedrich Merz has every reason to expect a clear three days which will reassert his dominance at home and the prospect of being nominated as chancellor of the Christian Union (CDU/CSU). for the 2025 elections.

The drawing up of its basic program CDUthe first after 17 years, is evaluated as an attempt by the leader to redefine the course of the party, after the end of the “Merkel era”.

The party is positioned more conservatively in terms of its principles, however maintaining the goal of attracting the center, with which theAngela Merkel made a systematic effort to connect the CDU.

Although the program has been under discussion for almost two years, some points are bound to cause intense debate, as hundreds of proposed amendments have been tabled.

The issue of Islam is considered crucial. In the draft of the program there was the reference: “Muslims who share our values ​​have a place in Germany”, but after an internal dialogue, the program committee changed the wording: “Muslims are part of the religious diversity of Germany and our society. An Islam that does not share our values ​​and rejects our free society does not belong in Germany.”

Another point that is considered controversial is the proposal for a mandatory year of social service, without, however, reinstating mandatory military service, but also the “debt brake”, for which many officials have requested “fixes”.

The Congress will be attended by the leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the CDU’s partner in Bavaria, Marcus Zenderwho in the previous elections had claimed the anointing of the chancellor candidate, which was then received by ‘Armin Lasset.

Even today, Mr. Zender remains highly popular outside of Bavaria as well, with popularity ratings higher than those of Friedrich Merz.

In an interview shortly before the start of the Congress, the Bavarian premier said he expected delegates to give a “clear message” about Friedrich Merz. “First of all, he united the Christian Union. Polls improved. In addition, we now have a clear positioning in the center, but also in the center-conservative space, which has broadened the spectrum of the Union. So he deserves a great result,” Mr Zender said in an interview with private news station n-tv.

The President of the European Commission will also be present at the Conference Ursula von der Leyenwho has already been named head of the European People’s Party for the upcoming European elections.

Absent has declared that it will be the former chancellor Angela Merkel, as between her and the current CDU the differences of position are now clear, while many officials charge her politics mainly with the problem of immigration and energy dependence on Russia. On the contrary, the Congress will be attended by her successor in the leadership of the party, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.