CDU: Friedrich Merz visibly touched by the election result – new party leader

“Dear Paul, dear friends, I accept the election result and I am deeply moved and impressed by this election result. Visible signs of emotion from Friedrich Merz. The delegates at the virtual party conference elected the 66-year-old to head the CDU on Saturday , with 94.6 percent of the valid votes cast. Merz is thus the new party leader of the largest opposition party.” This is a strong mandate and a great mandate to tackle the work in the Christian Democratic Union now with strength and heart at the same time. Thank you very much, dear Armin, with you again.” Armin Laschet, the party’s previous chairman and candidate for chancellor in the federal elections last September, recommended the delegates to choose Merz and took the opportunity to declare war. “Don’t make a mistake. With two-thirds of its members, the CDU was a strong base in this presidential election. Friedrich Merz has a huge backing, far beyond the different ideas and wings of our party. And therefore: dress warmly, the CDU is coming back. And I personally think that Friedrich Merz is exactly the right person at this time.” In a member survey among the almost 400,000 CDU members in December, Merz clearly prevailed in a runoff election against his competitors Norbert Röttgen and Helge Braun. It was his third Attempt to become CDU boss.