CDU: Ralph Brinkhaus renounces parliamentary group chairmanship in favor of Friedrich Merz

CDU parliamentary group chair
Ralph Brinkhaus makes room: Friedrich Merz becomes the leader of the opposition

When the new CDU chairman Friedrich Merz took the floor during the Ukraine debate in the Bundestag on Thursday afternoon after Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), it came as a surprise to many political observers. Actually, it would have been up to Ralph Brinkhaus, the leader of the largest opposition faction, to answer the minister. The fact that Merz nevertheless went to the lectern proved to be a pointer. In the evening, Brinkhaus decided not to run again for the chairmanship of the parliamentary group – in favor of Merz.

Brinkhaus announced his waiver on Thursday evening in a letter to the members of the Bundestag from the CDU and CSU. The letter is available from the German Press Agency (DPA) in Berlin. Brinkhaus also proposes to elect the new parliamentary group leader on February 15, originally Brinkhaus had been elected until the end of April. He clears the way for Merz, who will also become the leader of the opposition. A role that he has obviously already taken on in anticipation of the Brinkhaus waiver during the Ukraine debate.

Friedrich Merz: Brinkhaus informed about his candidacy

Brinkhaus writes that Merz informed him that he would definitely apply for the group chairmanship. “It’s no secret that Friedrich Merz and I have different opinions about the chairmanship of the parliamentary group, which we couldn’t dispel either. I think we both have good reasons for our positions,” the letter continues.

There Brinkhaus also states: “There must be no dissent that harms the Union – especially in view of the upcoming state elections, the results of which are so decisive for us,” added the Noch parliamentary group leader. He therefore suggests clarifying things quickly and bringing forward the upcoming election of the parliamentary group leader at the end of April “to the next plenary week, i.e. to February 15, 2022”. Brinkhaus alludes to the upcoming state elections in Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia in March and May.

Brinkhaus calls for support of the new

Brinkhaus announced in his letter that he would no longer run for parliamentary group chairmanship. At the same time, he asked the MPs to “support and carry the new group leader in the same way that I have been supported and carried by the group. Because this is the only way we will continue to be successful.” He will “of course” remain in the parliamentary group as a member of parliament “and, as before, contribute with great commitment and joy to the success of our joint Christian Democratic and Christian Social project”. Merz had always emphasized that the offices of party leader and opposition leader in the Bundestag should be in one hand.

dho / with material from DPA