The Union's identity crisis is palpable at the big meeting of the youngsters in the party in Münster.

At least four questions subliminally play a role at the Junge Union's “Germany Day” this weekend: What does the CDU stand for?

How and by whom should it be run?

Who is to blame for the poor election result, and what does that have to do with the battered relationship between the CDU and the CSU?

Tobias Schrörs

Political Editor.

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On Saturday it will be up to the two general secretaries of the sister parties, Paul Ziemiak (CDU) and Markus Blume (CSU), to answer questions from the boys in the Union. They concentrate on criticizing the lack of content and dealing with the election campaign - and quite a few of them break the collar. A delegate in a sweater steps up to the microphone. That alone is worth mentioning, where shirts and jackets are usually more popular. “We have simply become too arbitrary in our content,” he says. This can be seen in the answers in Wahl-O-Mat. Too often the Union's answer is: “no position”.

Like a cascade, he quotes one statement after the next, to which the parties had to take a stand for the Wahl-O-Mat. He reads out sentences like: “Chinese companies should not receive any orders for the expansion of the communication infrastructure in Germany.” And afterwards: “No position”. It goes on: “Organic agriculture should be promoted more than conventional agriculture” - “no position”. His words are drowned out in the hooting, he speaks to the delegates from the soul. There is the reproach: the Union - no position.

Ziemiak tries to make it clear with an example that there cannot be an answer with yes and no to all questions.

“Should people in distress at sea be rescued?” He asks.

The Union is against illegal migration, "but if someone is in the water, we'll save them".

The two general secretaries mention that a letter of complaint has been written to the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

This is responsible for Wahl-O-Mat.

The questions are tendentious, says Blume.

60 seconds to exchange blows

In the exchange of blows between the boys and the general secretaries, each speaker is only allowed to speak for 60 seconds. The delegates use the time to let go of their frustration. One says that it was partly "just to pull your hair", as it went in the campaign. He was initially a candidate for Chancellor for Markus Söder. His taunts against Laschet still bothered him, as he reveals. "I just have to say: Sorry, we have little understanding for the interference that came through," he says. He wants to know from Ziemiak and Blume what they would do to change something on this matter. The starting point, replies Blume, is probably this: “We should make the right decisions”. And: "We should also acceptthat two different parties also have different temperaments. ”Perhaps it was once too much temperament.

And so Ziemiak and Blume stand there with dark jackets at the white lectern, in the middle a casual JU boss Tilman Kuban.

Difficult to say how the delegates will take the debate.

One said that on a scale of one to ten, if ten was the highest score, he'd give it a six.

Another says self-critically that the pronunciation may have been a bit harsh.

They treated Armin Laschet even more gently.

That morning he was sacked and ashes and said that he was responsible for “this bitter result”.

Cheers for the younger generation

The youngsters of the party also tried to look ahead on Saturday. Two men from the younger ranks are cheered in Münster. One is Laschet's successor as Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst. The other is the head of the SME Association, Carsten Linnemann. The latter is one of those younger politicians who have the opportunity to present themselves at a pitch. In addition to him, the digital state minister Dorothee Bär, the Bundestag member Yvonne Magwas and the MEP Sven Simon appear.

The youngsters give their heads seven minutes for the future in order to present a plan for a new beginning.

“Will the CDU still exist as a people's party in the future?” Asks Linnemann.

He speaks of humility and attitude, speaks out in favor of a member survey to determine the next chairman.

And he says what many say on this Germany Day: that the Union has forgotten how to discuss.

She would not have discussed the suspension of compulsory military service, for example.

“The debates have to take place here and not in the Chancellery,” says Linnemann.

With all the unanswered questions in the Union, there seems to be at least one certainty: it will not be embarrassed to have debates in the Chancellery in the foreseeable future.