Johannes Winkel Re-elected as Leader of the Junge Union Amid Party Challenges

Johannes Winkel, a 34-year-old CDU member who represents Düsseldorf II in the Bundestag, was re-elected as chairman of the Junge Union, the youth organization of the CDU/CSU. He achieved a higher delegate vote share than in his initial election in November 2022. Speaking at the Deutschlandtag, Winkel highlighted the Union’s precarious position following three disastrous state-election outcomes and poll results that have fallen below twenty percent.

He called on young members to remain confident and to take responsibility for the party’s future. Winkel also emphasized a firm separation from the AfD, stating that the JU will not work with a party that adopts nationalist positions and recruits extremists. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Winkel on the platform X, praising the JU as a key driver of ideas and a strong voice for young people.