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Because of the corona crisis: is Merkel still in office? Survey already shows approval

2020-04-05T07:19:22.672Z


Who will follow Angela Merkel? This question will concern politics again after the Corona crisis at the latest. Is a fifth term possible?


Who will follow Angela Merkel? This question will concern politics again after the Corona crisis at the latest. Is a fifth term possible?

  • Turbulent times like the corona pandemic * require strong politicians
  • However, the chancellor question has moved into the background these days
  • Can the Merkel crisis demand a fifth term in office ?

Munich - At the turn of the year, the leadership crisis in the CDU and the question of suitable candidates for chancellor determined the political debates, so the Corona crisis has at least superficially paralyzed the power struggle in the party. The discussion about the succession Angela Merkels * seems to be on hold for the time being. But the corona pandemic is demanding a lot from politics. And in this time of crisis, Merkel stands out with pragmatism and calm.

In the current ARD Germany trend of March 2nd, Angela Merkel is the most popular politician and receives approval from 64 percent of the population. This corresponds to an increase of eleven percentage points compared to the previous month. Your highest value in this legislative period. The parties' response to their crisis management * is also very high.

Check out this post on Instagram

I know it's tough, but it saves lives. It helps those who are particularly affected by these infections and for whom we must do everything possible to protect them, said Chancellor Merkel on the extended measures against the Covid19 pandemic. . . . #We stay home #chancellor #Corona # covid_19 #merkel

A post shared by Angela Merkel (@bundeskanzlerin) on Apr 1, 2020 at 11:25 am PDT

If the Chancellor had largely held back in the past twelve months, with a few exceptions, such as the electoral scandal in the election for the Thuringian Prime Minister *, she is again omnipresent these days. Currently unimaginable that Merkel should be gone soon (2021). The vacuum behind her is also too great. Because not only the Chancellor had declared her waiver of re-election in 2018 and had just given up the CDU chairmanship, but also the CDU party chairman following her , Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, had announced her early withdrawal from the party chairmanship after the Thuringia debacle.

Chancellor question: Is Angela Merkel still in office for a fifth term?

In February, the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Armin Laschet, CDU politician Friedrich März * and surprise candidate Norbert Röttgen officially applied for the CDU chairmanship. Health Minister Jens Spahn *, who was also considered a possible candidate, had contented himself as vice in the course of a double candidacy with Armin Laschet. In the wake of the Corona crisis , the public discussion about succession has largely been silenced. The polls about Angela Merkel's popularity are increasing.

Merkel's successors largely blur in the public perception in details of coping with the crisis. Armin Laschet in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most severely affected state, had publicly emphasized that the federal directive would be awaited before taking its own measures.

Survey already gives approval: is Angela Merkel ready for a fifth term?

Friedrich Merz recently fell ill with a coronavirus infection himself, then reported back with his own crisis assessment. As Vice President of the CDU Economic Council , Merz can currently only provide impulses for political decisions.

In mid-March, Norbert Röttgen had declared that his campaign for the CDU chairmanship would be temporarily suspended due to the Corona crisis. Merz and Laschet have also canceled all party-internal campaign dates because of the corona virus. At a CDU special party conference in April, a successor should initially only be elected for eight months. A head-to-head race is already emerging.

Only at the long-established CDU party conference in Stuttgart in early December will the entire leadership of the party be newly elected. It should actually be clarified then: Whoever becomes CDU chairman also gives the candidate for chancellor of the Union.

Chancellor question: Successor discovered through crisis management?

Wild speculators are already seeing the Chancellor take up her fifth term - especially since Merkel stands for absolute constancy. Just what people long for in a crisis situation.

Yet another possible candidate was able to distinguish himself in the crisis and at least be pleased about the increased popularity ratings: The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder * - although he had not declared too long ago that he "belonged to Bavaria". At the beginning of March, an opinion research institute asked the Germans about the current representative of their interests: Markus Söder was the answer.

The last word in this debate is far from being spoken. It remains to be seen how long the crisis will continue and how the consequences will show. For the time being, Merkel will remain Germany's crisis manager and front woman.

mak / nai

* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-04-05

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