Overview
- Stefan Nacke proposes a National Council for Social Security in the Chancellery to coordinate work, health, family, housing, economic and finance policy across ministries in partnership with the Länder.
- CDA chief Dennis Radtke criticizes the absence of an “ordering hand,” warning recent market‑leaning proposals damaged the party’s social profile and urging Chancellor Friedrich Merz to steer the reform process.
- An INSA poll for Bild (Feb 13–16) finds only 22% view Merz as performing better than Olaf Scholz, with most current ministers rated worse than their predecessors; only Johann Wadephul and Alexander Dobrindt score better in their posts.
- The CDU meets in Stuttgart on Friday and Saturday, where Merz seeks another term as party leader as delegates confront internal dissatisfaction and watered‑down motions, including a softened part‑time proposal and a rewritten climate‑targets draft.
- In Brandenburg coalition talks, SPD and CDU outline an austerity course with staff reductions via attrition, protection for police staffing, and plans to speed permits and cut bureaucracy, aiming to finalize a coalition agreement in March as reports cite a multi‑billion‑euro budget gap.