Laschet succession
“No more so”: Norbert Röttgen is running for CDU chairmanship
Throws his hat in the ring around the CDU chairmanship: Norbert Röttgen
© Kay Nietfeld / DPA
After losing to Armin Laschet, Norbert Röttgen dares to make a new attempt at the CDU chairmanship. He declared that he would face the vote of the party members in December.
The Bundestag member Norbert Röttgen applies again for the CDU party chairmanship. The former environment minister said in Berlin on Friday that he was running “in the deep conviction that there is no way to go on like this” and that he could bring about a “renewal of the content” of the CDU. In January, Röttgen failed with his first candidacy for the party chairmanship: At the federal party congress, he was defeated by Armin Laschet and Friedrich Merz in the first voting round.
Röttgen announced that if he was elected, he would propose the 39-year-old member of the Bundestag Franziska Hoppenstedt from Hamburg as Secretary General. “She is a personality who is intellectually, organizationally and communicatively capable of performing this outstanding office,” said Röttgen.
Röttgen wants to keep the CDU as a people’s party
He sees his most important task in maintaining the CDU’s status as a people’s party. “The center, that is the location for the CDU,” said Röttgen. “This location must be expressed in the person of the chairman.” Above all, the CDU must “bring back votes in the middle”.
The application period for the CDU chairman candidate runs until Wednesday next week. To do this, you need the support of a regional or regional association.
Helge Braun will probably also be a candidate
Chancellery Minister Helge Braun has already identified himself as a candidate; he is to be officially nominated by his home district association Gießen on Friday evening. Another likely candidate is Merz, who has so far remained covered.
A membership decision on the candidates is to take place in December. If no candidate receives an absolute majority, a casting vote is planned. The new party leader is to be officially elected to office at a party congress on January 21st and 22nd in Hanover.