Both supporters of the Union and a majority of Germans trust Friedrich Merz a chancellor candidate rather than CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. The result of two recent surveys on behalf of the public broadcaster ARD and ZDF.
According to the ZDF Politbarometer, 35 percent of union supporters believe that the former parliamentary leader of the CDU and CSU has the best chance of achieving a good general election result. Only 8 percent trust the Kramp-Karrenbauer. Also NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet (15 percent) and Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (14 percent) and Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (12 percent) landed on this issue in front of the CDU party chairman.
According to the ARD Germany trend, not only the supporters of the Union, but also the citizens of Germany as a whole trust Merz the top candidate job the most. However, without direct comparison with other Union politicians, the Sauerland cuts only mediocre.
- 43 percent of Germans say Merz is not a good chancellor candidate.
- Only 42 percent thought that Merz was well suited.
- Kramp-Karrenbauer consider 19 percent a good chancellor candidate.
- Almost three-quarters (74 percent) believe that the Secretary of Defense would be a poor choice for the top candidate.
Will Merz coup? "Rumors without substance"
On Thursday, March expressed only evasive to his possible ambitions. At a panel discussion of the "Passauer Neue Presse" he said loudly to the question from the audience, whether he wanted to become candidate for chancellor himself: "The question is not on today." At the urging of the moderator, he laughingly added, "I feel encouraged."
Merz said in Passau, a special party could also decide on the chancellor's candidacy. At the same time he rejected speculation that he was sawing on the chair of Kramp-Karrenbauer and planned a coup at the CDU party congress. That was "just nonsense," said Merz. "There are rumors without any substance." He added, "The CDU does not overthrow its chairmen."
