Planned CDU reorganization: “Respect and recognition” for Laschet

The statements by CDU boss Laschet are the “offer of a retreat”, says Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier – and praises the move. Other CDU politicians also rate Laschet’s announcement that the party will be reorganized as positive.

Several prominent Christian Democrats have welcomed the announcement by CDU leader Armin Laschet that the party will be realigned after the election debacle. “We need the personnel renewal, but we also need a content reorganization as a people’s party,” said Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier on Thursday evening in the ZDF–Show “Markus Lanz”. “And Armin Laschet took the first step today.” That deserves “respect and recognition”.

Laschet wants to propose a party congress to the top CDU bodies on Monday to reorganize staff – he announced this on Thursday evening. He wants to moderate this process. It is about “a consensus of all who are currently being considered,” he said – without naming possible candidates as party leader such as Health Minister Jens Spahn, foreign expert Norbert Röttgen, economic expert Friedrich Merz or parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus.

Merz: “Clear the way for a new beginning”

The former Union parliamentary group leader Merz wrote on Twitter that Laschet was clearing the way for the CDU’s “new beginning”. For this he deserves respect, thanks and great recognition. Merz himself has not yet decided whether he will apply again for the party chairmanship: “Whether I run again for the party chairmanship or not, that is a question that I have not dealt with conclusively,” he said on Thursday evening in the ZDF show “Maybrit Illner”.

However, he ruled out a renewed candidacy in a fight vote at a federal party congress. Merz had recently stood for chairmanship twice at CDU federal party conferences and was defeated twice – first in 2018 against Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, then against Laschet at the beginning of this year. When asked about his possible ambitions, Merz now emphasized: “I would like to see that we write the three letters CDU a little larger than the three letters I.” He hopes that Armin Laschet will manage to “moderate a process that will ultimately result in a joint proposal”.

Greater involvement of the grassroots required

The Union had historically done poorly in the election and crashed to 24.1 percent. The SPD became the strongest force and is now exploring the possible formation of a traffic light coalition with the Greens and the FDP. Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier summarized Laschet’s statements as an “offer to withdraw”. The CDU boss did not finally specify what the reorganization meant for himself. “But nevertheless everyone understood that he does not want to stand in the way of the necessary changes if there is a majority in the party for them.”

Laschet’s announcements also fueled the debate about the integration of the party base – several CDU politicians had previously insisted on a member vote for the next decision on the chairmanship. The Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans told the “Rheinische Post” that Laschet’s announcement was important and correct, “in order to spare us further agonizing internal party discussions.” Now the Union must quickly “set the course again together and in consensus with our base at a party congress”.

Althusmann: Union must come to rest

The Hamburg CDU regional chief Christoph Ploß told the “Rheinische Post” and the “Welt”: “It is important that the process for the new beginning now runs transparently, quickly and with the involvement of the members.” Merz also said on ZDF that he thinks it is right “that we are talking about membership participation”.

The CDU head of Lower Saxony, Bernd Althusmann, said that evening in Berlin that the Union must now come to rest. Laschet had indicated “that he wants to help shape the transition process to a new federal chairman and then let go”. This is “an important signal” to the grassroots as well. Trying to get just one candidate for the presidency is honorable. “It would be good if it succeeded. I don’t really believe in it yet.”