Key FactsInsa poll puts NRW CDU at 26 percent
Oct 16, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
- If state elections were held Sunday, the CDU would receive 26 percent, eight points below its previous election result.
- Insa’s poll gives the AfD 21 percent, four points higher than in the previous survey.
- The SPD and FDP remain at 18 and 4 percent, while Greens, Left and others reach 16, 10 and 5 percent.
- On these figures, the coalition of CDU and Greens would lack a majority in Düsseldorf.
According to a new INSA poll, the CDU is losing significant support in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to figures for BILD ... Show more
Wüst and Winkel: Two Promising Candidates for a Future Without Merz: The Junge Union's Germany Day kicks off with a high-profile guest: Hendrik Wüst ...
n-tv.de/politik/Zwei-Hoffnungstraeger-fuer-eine-Zukunft-ohne-Merz-id31428189.html

OpinionHendrik Wüst: Is the CDU's rising star's method sufficient for the chancellorship?
faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/mehr-wirtschaft/hendrik-wuest-reicht-die-methode-des-cdu-hoffnungstraegers-fuer-den-kanzler-201299167.html

North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President: Why Hendrik Wüst Sometimes Sleeps on the Couch
spiegel.de/panorama/hendrik-wuest-warum-der-nrw-ministerpraesident-manchmal-auf-der-couch-schlaeft-a-b8b3f046-4efd-4dde-99fb-c8be9ba0f948

CDU Plummets in New NRW Poll! Wüst Under Pressure—His Lead Is Melting Away: A Shocking Poll for Minister President Wüst! Although his NRW CDU is still in the ...
derwesten.de/region/wuest-nrw-umfrage-afd-cdu-spd-gruene-id302181674.html

AfD Gains Ground: CDU Suffers Significant Losses in North Rhine-Westphalia Poll: Hendrik Wüst is one of Germany’s most popular politicians. Nevertheless ...
n-tv.de/politik/CDU-verliert-in-Wahlumfrage-in-NRW-deutlich-id31427679.html

CDU Plummets by Eight Percent in North Rhine-Westphalia – AfD Gains Ground: A new poll by the polling firm Insa paints a disastrous picture for Minister ...
focus.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-rauscht-in-nrw-um-acht-prozent-ab-afd-wird-staerker_a73f032b-a2b9-4d55-9442-2c6780d30e1f.html
,regionOfInterest=(2216,1195)&hash=9ce6dba40ad25a663896a87c594cb0fae5e46b4120c286e265c3df5d42ad0619)
Could the Federal Council soon initiate a review of a potential ban on the AfD party? On Friday, North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst ... Show more

Hendrik Wüst represents Bocholt and becomes the new President of the Bundesrat: Hendrik Wüst from Rhede represents Bocholt in the state parliament and will ...
bbv-net.de/bocholt/hendrik-wuest-rhede-bocholt-wird-bundesratspraesident-ab-1-november-w1262951-6000648324/

Ex-CSU-Chef Horst Seehofer fordert die Prüfung eines AfD-Verbotsverfahrens. Den besten Vorschlag habe der Ministerpräsident von Nordrhein-Westfalen ... Show more

Wüst as Chancellor – and Liminski as the new Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia? What happens if Hendrik Wüst (CDU) does indeed move to Berlin? The ... Show more
Young Union politician to Merz: Ask the Federal President to dismiss him: Disappointment with Friedrich Merz is widespread in the Young Union ...
augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/unions-nachwuchspolitiker-zu-merz-bitten-sie-beim-bundespraesidenten-um-entlassung-115515452

NRW Minister-President in Turkey | Meeting between Wüst and Erdoğan during trip to Turkey
www1.wdr.de/politik/politik-in-nrw/wuest-tuerkei-besuch-100.html

Key FactsErdoğan receives NRW Premier Hendrik Wüst in Ankara
Sep 28, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
- Wüst’s delegation announced the meeting at the Turkish president’s Ankara palace at short notice.
- According to Wüst’s delegation, discussions were to cover NRW-Turkey ties, economic cooperation, and current political issues.
- The trip centers on the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish recruitment agreement; it is the first by an NRW premier and Wüst’s first Turkey visit.
- Wüst traveled from Düsseldorf to Ankara with a prominent business delegation and more than 30 journalists.
I want to remain the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia.— Hendrik Wüst, in a ZDF interview the evening before his departure
Merz, Söder and Wüst as guests: Pictures of the JU meeting in Bonn: The Young Union (JU) is gathering its delegates for three days at the WCCB in Bonn ...
ga.de/fotos/bonn/ju-treffen-in-bonn-mit-merz-wuest-und-soeder_bid-156714887

RTL/ntv Trend Barometer: Wüst more popular than Söder, especially among the Greens
n-tv.de/politik/RTL-ntv-Trendbarometer-Wuest-beliebter-als-Soeder-besonders-bei-Gruenen-id31387056.html

Düsseldorf is getting a new university: The WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management is relocating its main campus to Düsseldorf ... Show more

Key FactsWüst demands full pass-through of the fuel-tax cut
Oct 3, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
- Within one day, Super E10 rose by 3.6 cents and diesel by 3.9 cents per litre.
- Compared with the morning of September 30, E10 was 10.9 cents and diesel 11.3 cents cheaper on Friday.
- Wüst (CDU) demands that oil companies pass the state price advantage fully on to consumers.
- ADAC assesses that lower fuel prices remain possible; the tax reduction has not yet been fully reflected.
If the oil companies profit from the relief measures for commuters and businesses, that's a scandal. Such conduct not only tears holes in family budgets, but also undermines people's trust in our social market economy.— Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (CDU); quoted in Bild
OpinionInterview: CDA leader Radtke: What Merz can learn from Wüst: The head of the CDU's social wing, Dennis Radtke, demands a strong willingness to change from ...
ksta.de/politik/interview-cda-chef-radtke-was-merz-von-wuest-lernen-kann-1392702

CDU Bocholt: This is how the firewall against the AfD stands in the city council: After the election of an AfD politician as President of the State Parliament ...
bbv-net.de/bocholt/cdu-bocholt-brandmauer-afd-abgrenzung-stadtrat-koalition-gruene-gisbert-bresser-fraktionschef-w1259001-6000642686/

Chancellor debate travels with him: Hendrik Wüst's perfectly ordinary trip to Turkey
n-tv.de/politik/Der-wirklich-ganz-normale-Tuerkei-Trip-des-Hendrik-Wuest-id31360826.html

Key FactsErdogan unexpectedly receives Wüst at presidential palace
Sep 29, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: derwesten.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: derwesten.de
- Wüst is the first serving North Rhine-Westphalia premier ever to make an official trip to Turkey.
- The three-day trip marks the 65th anniversary of the 1961 German-Turkish recruitment agreement, with stops in Ankara and Istanbul.
- The talks covered economic ties, the EU-Turkey Customs Union, defense cooperation, human rights, and legal certainty.
- For months, Wüst has been considered a possible successor to Friedrich Merz, but firmly rejects that prospect.
Hendrik Wüst: Auch im Westen schwinden Gewissheiten: Die CDU hofft, im April mit Hendrik Wüst NRW zu gewinnen. Doch die AfD wird auch hier stärker ...
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-10/hendrik-wuest-cdu-nrw-kandidat-landtagswahl
Paid articlePaywall“Scandal”: Why the expensive fuel discount flop angers NRW state premier Wüst: Hendrik Wüst (CDU), Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia ...
waz.de/politik/article413321340/skandal-warum-der-teure-tankrabatt-flop-nrw-regierungschef-wuest-aergert.html

RTL/ntv Politician Ranking: Schwesig Shoots into Top 3, Merz as Unpopular as Weidel and the Reich
n-tv.de/politik/Schwesig-schiesst-in-Top-3-Merz-so-unbeliebt-wie-Weidel-und-Reiche-id31359841.html

Hendrik Wüst in Turkey: İlkay Gündoğan had to wait over a year for this medal: It's by no means İlkay Gündoğan's first award. But this one is special ...
spiegel.de/sport/fussball/ilkay-guendogan-musste-ueber-ein-jahr-auf-diese-medaille-warten-a-6ab33e7d-1478-43e8-bc8d-d33e8db93b0c

NRW Minister Hendrik Wüst settles accounts with oil companies: "A scandal": After the fuel discount came into effect, NRW Minister Hendrik Wüst once again takes ...
derwesten.de/region/nrw-hendrik-wuest-spritpresie-tankrabatt-skandal-id302173276.html

Hendrik Wüst receives an audience with President Erdoğan during his trip to Turkey. Tagesspiegel reporter Daniel Friedrich Sturm reports from the scene.
Desolation in Turkey: New tones in dealing with Erdogan: For twenty years, German politicians have been making a fool of the Turkish president ...
nzz.ch/deutschland/politik/hendrik-wuest-schlaegt-im-umgang-mit-praesident-erdogan-einen-neuen-ton-an-augenhoehe-statt-belehrungen-ld.10026403

German Unity Day in Bremen - | Political figures show their approachability: Politicians in Bremen sought brief conversations with citizens on German Unity Day ...
rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/tag-der-deutschen-einheit-in-bremen-polit-prominenz-zeigt-sich-beim-buergernah_aid-155882313

Hendrik Wüst has become the first Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia to travel to Turkey for an official visit. After a meeting with President Recep ... Show more

German Unity Day: Germany now exists twice again.: This 36th Day of German Unity shows more clearly than ever before: The country has lost its identity ...
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-10/tag-der-deutschen-einheit-36-jahrestag-wiedervereinigung-geschichte
Paid articlePaywall“Motherland Turkey, Fatherland here”: One of the first guest workers looks back: NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst with former guest worker Sabri Aydin in ...
nrz.de/politik/article413228621/mutterland-tuerkei-vaterland-hier-einer-der-ersten-gastarbeiter-blickt-zurueck.html

Wüst visits Erdoğan: NRW leader on a test drive with the Chancellor: Hendrik Wüst (CDU) makes a surprise visit to Turkish President Erdoğan. There ...
taz.de/Wuest-auf-Erdogan-Besuch/!6217080/

Hendrik Wüst: What does "changing the chancellor" mean in Turkish?: Hendrik Wüst leaves no doubt about his ambitions in the chancellor debate - | and even speaks ...
zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2026-09/hendrik-wuest-cdu-tuerkei-reise-recep-tayyip-erdogan
Paid articlePaywallHendrik Wüst: That it still exists: a positive narrative about migration: Hendrik Wüst focuses his journey to Ankara and Istanbul on respect for German Turks ...
zeit.de/2026-09/hendrik-wuest-tuerkei-reise-deutschtuerken-cdu
Paid articlePaywallOlympic bid dropped in North Rhine-Westphalia: FDP accuses Wüst of negligence: Germany is bidding with Munich to host the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Games ...
rp-online.de/nrw/panorama/olympia-aus-in-nrw-fdp-wirft-wuest-versaeumnisse-vor_aid-155509451

AfD gains ground in North Rhine-Westphalia - | CDU's lead continues to shrink
focus.de/politik/deutschland/afd-legt-in-nrw-zu-vorsprung-der-cdu-schmilzt-immer-weiter_b6b74a6d-3f86-47af-b76e-b904290672f4.html
,regionOfInterest=(931,404)&hash=fe88fd10e35adb13b438312c624cbd9fc316e55408bbf5371f26f481d83aff12)
"Anyone who has committed a crime must leave this country." NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) speaks clearly about migration policy in the RTL WEST ... Show more

Wüst: "I want to remain Minister-President." Hendrik Wüst is repeatedly mentioned as a possible successor to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (both CDU) ... Show more
AfD gains ground in North Rhine-Westphalia - | CDU's lead continues to shrink
focus.de/politik/deutschland/afd-legt-in-nrw-zu-vorsprung-der-cdu-schmilzt-immer-weiter_b6b74a6d-3f86-47af-b76e-b904290672f4.html
,regionOfInterest=(931,404)&hash=fe88fd10e35adb13b438312c624cbd9fc316e55408bbf5371f26f481d83aff12)
CDU state governors back Merz—but their statement packs a punch: The CDU state premiers apparently do not want to see the chancellor ousted ...
rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/cdu-ministerpraesidenten-staerken-merz-doch-ihre-erklaerung-hat-es-in-sich_aid-154885129

Key FactsEight CDU state premiers reaffirm support for Friedrich Merz
Sep 16, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
- The eight CDU state premiers reject leadership debates and intend to share responsibility with the chancellor.
- Their statement says renewed trust in the Christian Democrats should come through listening and political action, not personnel debates.
- Their shared principles include a stable government with its own Bundestag majority, cooperation with democratic forces, and decisive action.
- Earlier, CDU state premier Boris Rhein, Gitta Connemann, and Daniel Peters likewise criticized the personnel debates.
German politics needs stability now more than ever. In this situation, it now comes down to unity, resolve, and a clear course of action from the German Christian Democrats.— From a joint statement by the eight CDU ministers-presidents, available to the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND).
Merz Weakened: The Union Will Likely Wait a While Before Changing Chancellors: Friedrich Merz is under pressure. But despite the poor election results ...
weser-kurier.de/politik/inland/merz-geschwaecht-union-will-mit-einem-kanzlerwechsel-wohl-noch-warten-doc87o2ag0owsi11hxdu9gw

Merz in Bedrängnis: Fünf Szenarien für einen Kanzlertausch: Kanzler Merz ist in Bedrängnis - nach den Landtagswahlen in Berlin und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern am ...
n-tv.de/politik/Fuenf-Szenarien-fuer-einen-Kanzlertausch-id31307842.html

Key FactsFive Scenarios for a Possible Change of Chancellor
Sep 16, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
- Sunday’s state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could intensify criticism of Merz within the CDU.
- The article cites no signs of a resignation; Merz would remain caretaker chancellor until a successor was appointed.
- If Merz lost a confidence vote, the president could dissolve the Bundestag within 21 days if Merz proposed it.
- The CDU cannot legally remove him outright; Markus Söder, Hendrik Wüst, and Alexander Dobrindt are mentioned as possible successors.
High fuel prices are a burden for motorists - | North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) is therefore calling for swift relief ... Show more

AfD ban proceedings: "There's no better time": Hendrik Wüst called for an examination of proceedings to ban the AfD. There will never be a better time ...
derwesten.de/politik/afd-verbot-siegmund-sachsen-anhalt-wahl-id302158307.html

Working group to examine: Wüst expresses openness to AfD ban proceedings: Unlike other parties, the CDU is hesitant regarding a potential ban on the AfD ...
n-tv.de/politik/Wuest-zeigt-sich-offen-fuer-AfD-Verbotsverfahren-id31281830.html

Key FactsWüst calls for open-ended working group on AfD
Sep 8, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
- Wüst calls for a federal-state working group to examine constitutional handling of the AfD carefully and without predetermined results.
- The Federal Constitutional Court ultimately decides on a ban application; only the Bundestag, Bundesrat or federal government may file one.
- Markus Söder considers a ban constitutionally difficult to enforce and warns of lengthy proceedings and martyr status for the AfD.
- AfD representatives, including Alice Weidel, mocked the proposal and questioned Wüst’s understanding of democracy.
I warn against hasty calls for banning the AfD, because banning a political party can only be the last resort if we want to protect our constitution.— Hendrik Wüst, NRW's Minister-President, in a statement on X regarding the AfD ban debate.
NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst in private: "I'm putty in the hands of my 5-year-old"
derwesten.de/region/nrw-minister-hendrik-wuest-tochter-privat-id302165378.html

Queen on his ears, beef roulade on his plate, and spending a day with Poldi: Hendrik Wüst (CDU) has signed our RTL WEST guestbook ... Show more

AfD wins election in Saxony-Anhalt decisively - | what does the result mean for North Rhine-Westphalia? The AfD has clearly won the state election in ... Show more
Alexander Dobrindt, Hendrik Wüst, Markus Söder, or Boris Rhein? The Chancellor's position is shaky, and the debate about his successor is gaining momentum ... Show more
Spiegel.de
Spiegel.de
Söder also opposes Wüst's idea: Hesse's Minister-President Rhein rejects review of a potential AfD ban.
n-tv.de/politik/Hessens-Ministerpraesident-Rhein-lehnt-AfD-Verbotspruefung-ab-id31285032.html

Key FactsRhein Rejects Examination of an AfD Ban
Sep 9, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: n-tv.de
- Hendrik Wüst proposed an open-ended federal-state review after the AfD’s election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, involving constitutional-law experts.
- Boris Rhein wants to marginalize the AfD politically and simultaneously warns against expecting a quick solution through ban proceedings.
- The earlier NPD proceedings lasted several years; despite anti-constitutional aims, the court found insufficient potential to implement them.
- Markus Söder considers a ban constitutionally difficult to enforce and fears the AfD could gain martyr status as a result.
I am still of the opinion that the AfD must be politically marginalized.— Boris Rhein, Hessian Prime Minister, made the remark on the sidelines of an event at the Hessian state representation in Brussels, commenting on how to handle the AfD.
Hendrik Wüst: “Cologne newspapers make an important contribution”: NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst emphasizes in his greeting for the publishing house's ...
rundschau-online.de/80jahre/hendrik-wuest-koelner-zeitungen-leisten-wichtigen-beitrag-1373464

If Friedrich Merz falls: Will Wüst or Söder follow?: Friedrich Merz is shaky. Frustration within the CDU/CSU is growing. A preliminary decision will be made on ...
stern.de/politik/wenn-friedrich-merz-stuerzt--folgt-wuest-oder-folgt-soeder--38254608.html

Paid articlePaywallÖzdemir calls for a timetable for AfD ban proceedings: Following the election in Saxony-Anhalt, some CDU/CSU politicians are open to the idea of banning the ...
faz.net/aktuell/politik/wahl-in-sachsen-anhalt/oezdemir-fordert-zeitplan-fuer-afd-verbotsverfahren-201213525.html

Saxony-Anhalt election blog: Hendrik Wüst wants to have a ban on the AfD reviewed
rundschau-online.de/politik/wahl-sachsen-anhalt-2026-hendrik-wuest-will-afd-verbot-pruefen-lassen-1366564

🚈The new light rail connection to Düsseldorf Airport is now in operation. 🎉 On Friday, September 4, 2026, Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, Dr. Claudia Elif Stutz ... Show more

The CDU's "friendly face": How Hendrik Wüst is scoring points in Saxony-Anhalt as an alternative to Merz
rundschau-online.de/politik/das-freundliche-gesicht-der-cdu-wie-hendrik-wuest-in-sachsen-anhalt-als-merz-gegenentwurf-punktet-1364004

Never before has a German chancellor been so unpopular: More than four-fifths of citizens are dissatisfied with Friedrich Merz's performance ... Show more
Election shock in Saxony-Anhalt: How long will Hendrik Wüst stay in Düsseldorf?: Friedrich Merz is coming under increasing pressure. Speculation is growing ...
rundschau-online.de/politik/nach-dem-wahlschock-in-sachsen-anhalt-wie-lange-bleibt-wuest-noch-in-duesseldorf-1367977

“I said something that no one in the CDU has said before”: Wüst breaks the AfD ban taboo
rosenheim24.de/politik/afd-verbot-pruefung-arbeitsgruppe-hendrik-wuest-cdu-bricht-tabu-partei-sachsen-anhalt-landtagswahl-zr-94482429.html

OpinionWüst instead of Merz? A chancellor's downfall from North Rhine-Westphalia is unlikely.
nw.de/nachrichten/meinung/24413188_Wuest-statt-Merz-Ein-Kanzlersturz-aus-NRW-ist-unwahrscheinlich.html

Possible successors to Merz: Söder, Wüst, Dobrindt, Rhein? Or none at all?: In Berlin, there is speculation about who could replace Friedrich Merz as Chancellor ...
sueddeutsche.de/politik/merz-nachfolger-soeder-wuest-li.3547772

Paid articlePaywallA sign against loneliness. 🫂 Mayor Thomas Kufen and Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, together with other representatives from Essen's civic society ... Show more
ris.essen.de/sdnetrim/UGhVM0hpd2NXNFdFcExjZYdgDcViodXlVX95i00bz4BRvumEBh86R_6eP2nJKlTk/Broschuere-A4-Charta-Einsamkeit_Stadt-Essen-0526.indd.pdf
ris.essen.de/sdnetrim/UGhVM0hpd2NXNFdFcExjZYdgDcViodXlVX95i00bz4BRvumEBh86R_6eP2nJKlTk/Broschuere-A4-Charta-Einsamkeit_Stadt-Essen-0526.indd.pdf
