The parliamentary group leader of the Hesse CDU, Ines Claus, apparently wants to become deputy federal leader. Claus' candidacy could now cause problems for Merz from another direction.
Claus is the only woman at the head of a CDU state parliamentary group and supports the course announced at the 2022 federal party conference of making the party younger and more female. If her candidacy fails, this could be interpreted as a fatal sign against her own claim. Two more women are standing for election as deputy chairman of the CDU.