Laschet succession
CDU triumph: Merz, Röttgen and Braun often agree
Friedrich Merz (r.), Norbert Röttgen (center) and Helge Braun at the town hall event in Berlin. Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
From this Saturday on, the 400,000 CDU members can decide who should be the successor to party leader Laschet. The only time they appear together, the candidates are tame.
Triell about the CDU chairmanship: During a joint introduction of the three candidates Helge Braun, Friedrich Merz and Norbert Röttgen, many similarities became clear on Wednesday evening.
All three applicants for the successor to party leader Armin Laschet pleaded, for example, that the Union should involve more people with a migration background and become more attractive for women. There was also a lot of agreement on the fight against the corona pandemic, climate and foreign policy. The tone among each other was friendly, they were used instead of attacked.
The so-called town hall format with ex-Union parliamentary group leader Merz, foreign politician Röttgen and executive head of the Chancellery Braun was the end of the introductory phase in the power struggle for the CDU chairmanship. At the party headquarters in Berlin, the three politicians answered questions from 25 selected members in the audience, whose topics had previously been selected from online broadcasts.
The digital party congress follows in January
For the first time, the approximately 400,000 CDU members are to make a preliminary decision on the future chairman in a survey that starts this Saturday. The new party leader is to be elected on 21./22. January by 1001 delegates at a digital party conference. The choice must then be confirmed by postal vote.
Significant new approaches could not be recognized in the 90-minute question and answer session. Merz, Röttgen and Braun spoke out in favor of a quick reaction to the high corona numbers. They also called for a more resolute German and European policy towards China. Röttgen said: “I advocate a strategy of the West that relies on strength.” China challenge the international order. Merz criticized: “China has a Europe strategy, but Europe does not have a China strategy.” Braun called for a joint China strategy from the G7 group of the leading western economies.
Merz, Röttgen and Braun unanimously rejected a CDU dual leadership. “I’m not a fan of double-tops,” said Braun. Röttgen emphasized that with a dual leadership, the CDU would imitate other parties. “We have to do it in a way that suits the CDU.” Merz agreed with his competitors: “The reasons are well presented, I share the assessment.”
Röttgen said: “We have to be able to connect again across the population, in all groups, from young people to women and up to the elderly.” Merz emphasized: “The CDU must become modern. It has to master the issues of the day, it has to give answers, it has to criticize the government. But at the same time she has to give her own good and convincing answers for all generations in this country. “
Braun said that the CDU should not determine the new chairman solely through a member survey, but must also involve the base more closely in matters of content. This applies to important issues such as the suspension of compulsory military service a few years ago. “In the future, we will have to determine the content more closely together.” “Future dialogues” with the members are necessary.
«A nationwide integration offer» for the CDU
In the final round, however, differences became clear when the candidates were asked to present photos they had chosen. Merz showed a picture of his “Team CDU” with him, his possible General Secretary Mario Czaja from Berlin and the Baden-Württemberg Bundestag member Christina Stumpp as possible Deputy General Secretary. “We are a nationwide integration offer for our party,” said Merz, who in the past was often accused of not being able to work well enough in a team.
Röttgen presented himself very personally with a family photo from the 18th birthday of his daughter Judith. The picture shows “that there is also a life outside of politics” – happiness in the family is a source of strength for him, among other things, to work in politics.
Braun had brought a photo with cheering young CDU supporters from the 2013 election when the Union had received 41.5 percent. The CDU should use the time of the opposition for a quick renewal. The goal was always a CDU result of 40 percent plus x. He will do all he can to achieve this. Then pictures like the one from 2013 would arise again.