Status: 11/10/2021 11:46 a.m.
In the race for the CDU chairmanship there are signs of further movement: The proposal comes from Hesse that the current head of the Chancellery, Braun, should stand as a candidate. On Friday, the state executive wants to discuss Laschet’s successor.
In the power struggle for the future CDU leadership, a new name has been brought up for discussion: The Hessian CDU politician Michael Meister proposes the previous head of the Chancellery, Helge Braun, as the new federal chairman. “Helge Braun has a bright head with ideas for the future. He can formulate precise messages and penetrate complex issues,” said the parliamentary state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education of the editorial network Germany (RND).
The dpa news agency also reports that there are corresponding explorations in the Hessian CDU. Accordingly, Braun should have the support of the Hessian CDU chairman Volker Bouffier for a candidacy as the successor to the outgoing party leader Armin Laschet. Obviously, it is not yet clear whether Braun will actually run for office. However, there is support for Braun from all parts of the CDU.
A spokesman for the state CDU did not want to confirm the information. All he said was that a state board meeting on Friday would discuss the chairmanship of the CDU in Germany. The “Spiegel” also reported on the possible personell Braun and the meeting planned for Friday.
So far only NRW politicians are traded
After the Union’s debacle in the federal election, the CDU wants to reposition itself. Applicants for the party chairmanship can be nominated since Saturday. Nobody has officially declared their candidacy. So far, the North Rhine-Westphalian politicians Friedrich Merz, Norbert Röttgen, Jens Spahn and Ralph Brinkhaus have been considered possible candidates to succeed party leader Armin Laschet.
In a number of regional associations, however, there is resentment that only politicians from North Rhine-Westphalia are traded. Braun comes from Hessen. The new party leader is to be elected on January 21 at a party congress in Hanover, the member survey is planned for December.
“Hope for a candidate field with real alternatives”
In the CDU, according to information from the dpa news agency and the magazine “Spiegel”, an interview in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” from the weekend was named as an indication of Braun’s interest in the party chairmanship. There Braun had said: “I hope for an exciting member survey for a candidate field with real alternatives.”
He also emphasized the importance of solidarity between the CDU and CSU: “If the Union is not closed, it cannot be successful. And when the CDU and CSU are at odds, the rift always goes through the CDU, because we have many friends too the CSU gives. ” When asked whether this was also possible with the CSU boss, Braun told the newspaper: “Of course, a close alliance with Markus Söder is possible.”