Germany's political centre braces for painful reforms amid rising extremism
Germany's political centre faces mounting pressure as radicalisation grows across the country. In a guest column for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, former Hesse minister-president Roland Koch argues that saving democracy now demands painful reforms. He insists leaders must push beyond their usual limitsâor risk losing public trust entirely.
The call comes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz secures a second term as CDU chairman, winning 91.17% of the vote in Stuttgart. While his support dipped slightly from 95.33% in 2022, the result signals stronger party unity ahead of the 2026 state elections.
Merz's re-election follows months of debate over Germany's direction. Since taking office as chancellor in May 2025, he has led a CDU/CSU-SPD coalition formed after the party's 28.6% victory in February's federal election. Unlike past leadership battlesâsuch as his 2002-2004 rivalry with Angela Merkel or the fractious 2021 contestsâthis transition has shown fewer internal splits.
Yet Koch's column warns that unity alone won't be enough. He stresses that leaders must tackle unpopular reforms on labour laws, worker participation, and tax policyâeven if it risks backlash. Before his re-election, Merz himself spoke of 'pain thresholds' that Germany must overcome to secure future prosperity. The challenge now lies in crafting a compromise that tests both the CDU/CSU and SPD without fracturing the coalition. Koch argues that only bold, reputation-risking decisions can counter rising extremism. Without a renewed promise of economic stability, he warns, the democratic centre could weaken further.
The coming months will test whether Germany's leaders can turn Koch's warnings into action. Negotiations between the CDU/CSU and SPD must balance painful reforms with political survival. Success will hinge on their ability to sell difficult choices as necessary stepsânot just for party stability, but for the country's future.
