Laschet criticizes Merkel's European policy

Armin Laschet is a successor candidate for the outgoing CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. He rarely criticizes Chancellor Angela Merkel. All the more, his statements at the Munich Security Conference caused a sensation.

Munich (dpa) - Is this black and green picture a pointer for the future federal political everyday life in Germany? At the end of the Munich Security Conference, CDU Vice Armin Laschet and Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock discuss the situation in Europe - he almost only in German, she in English.

It's about more German money for Europe, dealing with populists and climate protection. Thematically nothing special, but shortly after the announcement of the withdrawal of the CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer it is a remarkable appearance - not only because German Prime Ministers and opposition politicians are otherwise not on stage in front of an illustrious international audience.

First of all, it is Laschet 's statements about the reign of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) that make one sit up and take notice: the government has to trust itself more in its European policy, as it did in the 1980s Helmut Kohl: "You have to imagine that one told people: give up the D-Mark. You would need such courage today, "says Laschet. He does not mention Merkel by name, the criticism is clear. The motto of the coalition agreement of the federal government is "A new start for Europe", "but one hasn't noticed that much in the past two years".

For Laschet - and Baerbock, who often nods next to him in a red dress - it is clear: Germany, like Kohl, will have to develop and implement initiatives for Europe again with France during the upcoming EU Council Presidency.

In contrast to Laschet, Baerbock does not criticize Merkel directly on stage, just as the Greens have long left the current state of the Union uncommented. Another guest in Munich knows that the Greens still have the best chances to leave the opposition after the upcoming election: On Friday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron Baerbock and co-Greens boss Robert Habeck invite you to a three-hour dinner and during that Course also towards Paris. On Saturday, CSU boss Markus Söder will meet Macron on the sidelines of the conference, if only for half an hour - the still CDU boss, on the other hand, gets away with nothing.

In the Union, Laschet's speech is also understood as follows: someone positions himself internally for the fight for the CDU head office. As a reminder: Since Kramp-Karrenbauer announced almost a week ago that he wanted to resign from office by the summer, the search for successors has been running at full speed for a long time.

Three candidates are given the best chances: In addition to Laschet, who has not yet commented on his plans, these are the former Union Group leader Friedrich Merz and Health Minister Jens Spahn. From the close surroundings of Merz, it is said that he is determined to run for a candidature; at Laschet and Spahn in the Union, everyone is counting on a prior agreement without a competitive candidacy. At this point, Laschet in Munich does not dare to take cover. When asked whether Düsseldorf or Berlin, he laughingly says: "Aachen."

For Kramp-Karrenbauer, the appearance in Munich in this situation is extremely difficult. However, if you experience them, you will see a German defense minister who has not yet finished her reign, but is asking questions about the situation of the CDU. That will change in the coming week: Then "AKK" wants to meet with its potential successor. The corridor should then be specified until the meeting of the CDU board on Rosenmontag - for example, the date for the necessary party convention for the new election and, of course, the specific date of her resignation.

While Kramp-Karrenbauer sees no reason to rush with the party question (and thereafter with the chancellor candidate question), many in the Union are pressing for a quick solution. "The longer the personnel question remains open in the CDU, the more the Greens will benefit from it, because under this situation they are perceived as more stable in the political landscape," says CSU country group leader Alexander Dobrindt of the "Welt am Sonntag". Behind the scenes, this sounds even more drastic in the Union: "She doesn't even notice that the talks have long since passed her." Ultimately, AKK only has their retirement date in their own hands.