World
CDU appoints Franziska Hoppermann as general secretary
On July 27, 2026, Friedrich Merz, president of Germany's CDU (Christian Democratic Union), proposed Franziska Hoppermann, 44, as the party's new general secretary. The federal board elected her unanimously in a provisional capacity. Her official confirmation is scheduled for the end of 2027 at the party congress. Hoppermann succeeds Carsten Linnemann, who assumes his position as Federal Minister for Health on July 29, 2026. From the CDU's socio-political wing, her profile differs markedly from her economically liberal-oriented predecessor.