The soundtrack for the Junge Union's (JU) "Germany Day" is of course no coincidence. The JU management chose exactly which songs the guest speakers would enter the hall in Bonn with. And these convey a message from the now powerful young people in the Union.
As Friedrich Merz enters, “United through the storm” booms out of the speakers. Getting through the storm together: That was also the promise made by JU federal chairman Johannes Winkel to the Chancellor: We support you, but only if you implement the reforms now. And behind this “if” there is, so to speak, a threatening exclamation point.
Noticeable impatience with reforms
With noticeable impatience, the Junge Union is pushing for the implementation of reforms, especially pension reform. She angrily demands more assertiveness against the SPD in the coalition. And the JU expresses its convictions with great self-confidence.
Because it sees itself not only as the engine and driver of the CDU, but also as a power factor. Merz has a majority of twelve votes in the Bundestag. The young group now consists of 20 representatives. So if they oppose the Chancellor, he has a problem.
Chancellor's promise
Merz knows this importance and is therefore being more “JU-friendly” this year. The big bang doesn't happen. In contrast to the last "Germany Day", when Merz, visibly angry, shouted to the delegates in the pension dispute: "You can't be serious!"
Instead, the Chancellor promised the approximately 300 delegates that he would implement the pension compromise as it is now (for almost four months). It should be decided in the cabinet before Christmas. And the first reading in the Bundestag should take place before the end of the year.
Short, polite applause
That smooths things over. It is the fulfillment of the minimum expectations that the JU has of its chancellor, whom it once celebrated so frenetically and with whom it is now so disappointed. The revolution doesn't happen and Merz gets a brief, polite applause. Nothing more, nothing less. After the conflicts of the past few months, this is a friendly act within the Union.
Leading representatives of the JU also make it clear away from the speaker's stage: the window of opportunity in which people remain silent now will not be open for much longer. Even if ultimatums were not spoken out loud at the “Germany Day” in 2026, one can hear: The pension reform must be passed by spring 2027 at the latest, otherwise it will happen again.
Declaration of love to Wüst
On Friday evening, Hendrick Wüst walks into the hall of the “Germany Day”. His song is a barely hidden declaration of love: "You are the best, more than you know!"
After the disappointment with Friedrich Merz, the JU wants a new candidate for chancellor. It is an open secret that the JU would no longer support Merz as a candidate for chancellor in the next federal election. Wüst is considered a possible - and not unlikely - replacement candidate. He is almost 20 years younger than Merz, and yet does not appear polarizing or even blustering.
ACDC for Söder
But Wüst is too cautious and reserved for some people when it comes to young people. The song was therefore also a message to the NRW Prime Minister: Show yourself, throw your hat in the ring!
And Markus Söder? He appears in the hall under the rocking sounds of ACDC: "Thunderstruck". His speech really energized the JU delegates and guests. Söder portrayed himself as the one who gets the room going without presenting much new content.
“Sweat of fear stinks”
However, the second possible "replacement chancellor" emphasizes that the Union now has to force through the decisions - and thus also the reforms - and emphasizes that the Union is the larger partner in the coalition - much to the pleasure of the JU. Garnished with statements like "Sweat of fear stinks," the Bavarian Prime Minister portrayed himself as a go-getter. The sub-level behind it: I don't get lost in compromises and delays.
The Junge Union, along with Merz, Wüst and Söder, agree on the sharp demarcation from the political fringes. It is noteworthy that Söder said on the last day and after the successful exploratory talks between the Left, the Greens and the SPD in Berlin that if you need a firewall, then "more to the left."
Angle is strengthened
At the "Germany Day" 2026, a JU will be presenting itself that is bursting with strength and has finally said goodbye to being a well-behaved applause backdrop for the Chancellor. At the top is Johannes Winkel, a chairman who received the best election result that a JU leader has ever received. This will strengthen the JU voice across the entire Union.
Even if the loud bang didn't happen. Harmony does not return to the tense relationship between JU and Merz. It's just a break. Or the calm before the storm.
