Johannes Winkel, the chairman of the Junge Union (JU), has criticized the CDU's recent party congress in Stuttgart, stating that the party is not bold enough with its reform agenda, particularly concerning social systems. Winkel expressed disappointment that a JU proposal for comprehensive social reforms, including linking retirement age to life expectancy and abolishing the "Rente mit 63," was referred for further consultation rather than being adopted. He argued that tactical considerations related to upcoming state elections, rather than substantive objections, prevented the delegates from embracing the reforms. Winkel emphasized the urgency of enacting these reforms to prevent the potential abandonment of the debt brake in future budgets, asserting that the German public is more realistic about demographic changes than politicians in Berlin.