Germany Coalition Holds Reform Talks
- CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary group leaders are holding a two-day retreat in Münster to agree a reform agenda before the Bundestag returns from its summer recess in September 2026.
- The sessions mark Thorsten Frei's debut as CDU faction chairman after Jens Spahn resigned over a surrogacy affair; Spahn attended the preliminary dinner despite no longer holding
- SPD leader Matthias Miersch said he intends in principle to proceed with abolishing the 'Rente mit 63' early-retirement rule, but will seek special provisions for hardship cases.
Germany's black-red coalition entered what its own leaders are calling a potential last-chance retreat on Thursday, as the executive boards of the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups convened in Münster for a two-day closed session aimed at shifting the alliance from months of internal quarrelling into a working reform programme.
A Coalition Under Pressure
The three figures leading the talks are Thorsten Frei, 53, the new CDU parliamentary group chairman; Matthias Miersch, 57, his SPD counterpart; and Alexander Hoffmann, 51, leader of the CSU's regional group in the Bundestag. Together they have set themselves the goal of inaugurating what they describe as an "Herbst der Reformen" — an autumn of reforms — before parliament returns from its summer recess in September. The pressure on the coalition is considerable: both the CDU/CSU and SPD are recording weak polling numbers, and the Saxony-Anhalt state election on 6 September, fought against a backdrop of strong AfD support, is already casting a long shadow over proceedings. A separate cabinet retreat earlier this year similarly tested the coalition's internal cohesion.
Spahn's Farewell and Frei's Debut
The Münster gathering also marks a significant change of personnel. Thorsten Frei is attending his first such retreat as parliamentary group chairman, replacing Jens Spahn, who resigned following what has been reported as a "Leihmutter-Affäre" — a surrogacy affair. Spahn, 46, had himself arranged for the retreat to be held in Münster rather than repeat the 2025 venue of Würzburg, and he attended Wednesday evening's preliminary dinner at the restaurant "Großer Kiepenkerl" alongside Frei, Miersch, and Hoffmann, despite no longer holding a formal leadership role.
What the Leaders Are Saying
Frei set out a direct economic rationale for the reform push. "We are driving the reforms forward. Because without reforms there is no economic growth. And without growth there are no stable social security systems," he said. He added that the group was aware of the gravity of the coming months and was laying the groundwork for the second half of the year.
Hoffmann struck a similar note, arguing that difficult state elections did not alter the underlying reform imperative. "The people expect real change and for us to deliver what we have promised," he said, emphasising that the priority was now reliability.
On a specific policy question, SPD leader Miersch indicated he intends in principle to press ahead with the planned abolition of the so-called "Rente mit 63" — the provision allowing early retirement after 45 years of contributions — while seeking special arrangements for hardship cases.
Miersch also framed the retreat in broader terms, describing it as an opportunity to stabilise the labour market and the economy, to future-proof social security systems, and to provide answers on climate and heat protection.
Outlook
Whether the two days in Münster will produce the decisive breakthrough the coalition's own members acknowledge they need remains uncertain. One small but telling sign that the atmosphere at the top has warmed: Miersch has offered Frei the informal German address of du, and Frei has accepted. Whether that personal thaw translates into coherent legislative action will become clearer when the Bundestag reassembles in September.
