Johannes Winkel: From JU boss to influential CDU MP

Since Johannes Winkel took over the chairmanship of the Junge Union a few years ago, two things have shaped his actions: He wanted to transform the party and post club of young election workers into a forward-thinking power factor in future Union politics. And of course Winkel also had something planned for himself.

He has now come quite far. The JU has gained considerable influence in the federal party and, through the Young Group, also in the parliamentary group. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Union's elders felt this significantly when Winkel helped organize the resistance to a one-sided pension reform that promises the status of older people today and places ever greater burdens on younger and younger people. The fact that this did not become a blockade, but rather a political process, brought Winkel and his colleagues increasing reputation.

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With a clearly conservative profile, the young lawyer quickly managed to make himself heard, but at the same time did not give up his professional work in a larger law firm for the sake of independence. Winkel grew up in Siegerland, where his mother worked as a nurse and his father worked as an employee. The CDU politician, who is also involved in the Catholic Church, studied law in Munich, St. Gallen and Bonn. Shortly before taking office at the JU in autumn 2022, he passed the second state examination.

Outstandingly factual, frighteningly adult

He won his constituency in Düsseldorf straight away last year. Winkel supports the reintroduction of compulsory military service, remains loyal to Israel and distinguished himself in the 2025 election campaign as an opponent of a black-green coalition. Compared to his radicalized counterpart from the Green Youth at the time, the outstandingly objective Angle appeared frighteningly mature, but, unlike Jette Nietzard, managed to bring the concerns of his generation into party events.

Winkel's rapid rise in the parliamentary group also shows that the Union urgently needs this generation of politicians if it wants to win the future and survive politically. The MP was elected deputy chairman there this week. With core responsibilities for labor and social affairs, he follows ex-General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, who gave up both his party office and his position in the parliamentary group to become Health Minister.

In the coming months there will also be a farewell for Winkel, because at the age of 35 he will exceed the age limit for the Union's youth party. But he has long since earned a reputation as an independent leader in the CDU/CSU faction. If the Union is to be reckoned with in the future, Winkel will also be a force to be reckoned with.