Following the CDU party congress in Stuttgart, Junge Union (JU) leader Johannes Winkel is intensifying pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, presenting a stark choice: implement significant social reforms or face structural state debt. Winkel warned of a €60 billion budget deficit looming for the next year, emphasizing that the party must either enact financially impactful social reforms or abandon the debt brake, potentially relying on other parties. While the JU successfully advocated against weakening the debt brake at the congress, their proposal for pension reform was rejected. Winkel stressed that if the Union fails to achieve breakthroughs in migration, economy, pensions, and deregulation during coalition negotiations, the CDU could become "insolvent." Despite the public demands, Winkel maintains a good personal relationship with Merz but insists on high expectations for reform.