Reorientation of the CDU: what kind of party should that be?

The CDU is struggling for positioning and realignment. Not only does the heavily criticized speech by speed skater Pechstein in police uniform raise the question: Which party does the CDU want to be?

“Brilliant” – a word that will stay. Friedrich Merz called Claudia Pechstein’s speech at the small CDU party conference brilliant. A speech full of prejudice and populism. Racist, homophobic judges the political competition. And the CDU is agitated. The party deals with questions of rhetoric, tonality and language use. How much populism can it be?

Gladly a bit more when it comes to Merz. That Claudia Pechstein railed against refugees, against rainbow families. Merz visibly likes that. And that fits. It fits because Merz wants to lead the CDU with populist noise, preferably directly to the Chancellery.

He doesn’t seem to care that he doesn’t reach a large part of the political center with this ostracizing manner, but rather digs on the far right, although the polls show that this is not a blessing. The AfD is laughing up its sleeve. But that is not all. Instead of bringing the CDU together and on course, Merz brings conservatives and liberals against each other.

Merz is next to itself

There is nothing wrong with the fact that the party is discussing how it wants to position itself. On the contrary. The party lives again. Under Angela Merkel, the CDU was the Christian disciplined union – quarrels, arguments and controversies simply did not exist. The fact that we are now struggling to find the best way is as right as it is important. But how? The fact that Karin Prien pleads for moderation, for respect and serenity and that Jens Spahn publicly opposes it and wants to wage culture wars by hook or by crook is a gift.

But the fact that the party leader attacks his own prime minister, who wants to take a more moderate path than he does and adopts a different tone, is remarkable. Merz publicly disparages Hendrik Wüst. Unbelievable, but it also gives a deep insight. Merz is the closest to itself. And he clearly sees his big goal in danger: the chancellor candidacy.

Söder is lurking

Merz eventually took over the CDU to become chancellor. Retired as opposition leader? No, that would not be Friedrich Merz. It’s his only and last chance: it’s now or never. And then comes the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia and has similar ambitions, which he also announces publicly. Since the CDU boss shares – against his own man.

This is how the fight for the chancellor candidacy in the CDU is going this time. It’s still a duel, but CSU boss Markus Söder is already lurking in the Bavarian ambush. The year 2021 sends greetings and Armin Laschet is probably laughing softly. Nothing learned in the Union?

Do Kulturkampf bring electoral success?

And then the inner-party Kulturkampf. The CDU is writing a new program, looking for an exciting story, but then Pechstein comes along. It makes unintentionally visible how the CDU is doing. Merz and his followers applaud when Pechstein claims that nobody can drive the bus without fear because of the refugees and Merz’s deputy, Karin Prien, obviously wants to sink into the ground with shame.

What kind of party is this supposed to be, this CDU? If she feels she has to fight culture wars, the results will be anything but brilliant.