At the CDU party congress in Stuttgart, parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn strongly rejected any cooperation with the AfD and the Left party, aligning with Chancellor Merz and CSU leader Söder. Spahn characterized the Left as harboring "Jew-haters" and continuing socialist policies, specifically calling the Berlin Left a "crude mix of old SED and new Hamas" and criticizing its leader Heidi Reichinnek. He accused the AfD of Russian proximity and nepotism, deeming them untrustworthy. Despite coalition challenges with the SPD, Spahn defended the government's course, citing progress in defense, migration, and internal security, while acknowledging economic stagnation and high labor costs as major issues. He emphasized the coalition's obligation to succeed, despite the "tedious" nature of working with the SPD, and highlighted the lack of viable alternatives to this partnership.