CDU crisis: Söder assumes "democratic full failure" in Thuringia - and boldly accounts for the AfD

Turbulent days in the CDU. Party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer meets Merz, Laschet, Röttgen and Spahn for talks. Now she drew a first conclusion.

• Friedrich Merz apparently wants to run for the CDU chair .
• A successor is urgently sought after the AKK withdrawal .
• A candidate for chancellor should also be found by summer.

Update from February 19, 8:04 pm: During his appearance on the ZDF program "What now?" CSU politician Markus Söder commented on the situation of the CDU - and also billed hard with the AfD . Troubled times would come to the CDU, Söder announced. Now, however, a radical break with the past must not be made, he emphasized. The 15 years under Merkel were a great success, he praised the Chancellor. Nevertheless, new ideas would now be needed. There is "a lot to do in Berlin," he said. The task now is to reconcile the new with the old .

CDU crisis: Söder accounts with AfD politician Höcke

Söder took an unmistakable stance on the AfD. "There has to be an absolutely clear separation from the AfD ," he said. Then he followed up with sharp criticism of right-wing party Björn Höcke and his followers. "The group around Höcke does not want to go back to the 80s, but to the 30s, " said the Bavarian Prime Minister. And further: AfD politicians such as Lutz Bachmann, Höcke and their entourage are "the worst brown soup" in Germany and you don't want to spoon them out.

Söder also came to a devastating conclusion about the events in the Thuringian Prime Minister election. In Thuringia, "democratic full failure" was allowed by being dependent on AfD votes. When the moderators asked for their own political mistakes, Söder brought the right-wing populist party into play again. One of his biggest mistakes was misjudging the AfD's strategy, he said at the end of the interview.

CDU crisis: AKK draws a clear conclusion about discussions with potential successors

Update from February 19, 6:25 p.m .: On Wednesday, CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer came to a positive conclusion about her first discussions with potential candidates for her successor. "I have had very good and trusting discussions in the past few days," said the party chairman of the German Press Agency in Berlin. And she announced: " On Monday , we will use this as a basis to discuss how to proceed ." On this day, the CDU executive committees, the Presidium and the Executive Board, meet at regular meetings.

Today, AKK held talks with NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet , Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn and CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen about how to proceed after their announced withdrawal . The day before, she had this conversation with ex-union parliamentary leader Friedrich Merz . While Merz, Spahn and Laschet have so far left open whether they want to become party leaders, Röttgen - as a surprise candidate - has already openly committed to his ambitions.

CDU crisis: Röttgen wants member survey on AKK successor

Update from February 19, 16:16: Norbert Röttgen supports a member survey to determine the new CDU chairman. According to the current status, there could be a head-to-head race between Röttgen and Friedrich Merz . At least this is what a current poll conducted by the polling institute Civey says on behalf of Focus Online. * Merz and Röttgen are almost the same among Union voters. On the other hand, Röttgen is the clear winner among all those surveyed.

Almost 32 percent of the respondents trust Röttgen to do the job. Merz has 25, Laschet ten and Spahn seven.

Update of February 19, 3:36 pm: Former Union faction leader Friedrich Merz * wants to coordinate with the other participants before an official application for the CDU party chairmanship. Merz had a "very good conversation" with party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on the follow-up question on Tuesday and will comment on his plans "in due course", said Merz 'spokesman Armin Peter on Wednesday to the AFP news agency. "Mr. Merz continues to coordinate with everyone involved."

CDU in the leadership crisis: Merkel takes a stand

Update of February 19, 3:09 pm : Chancellor Angela Merkel ( CDU ) does not want to interfere in the debate about the CDU chairmanship and the question of the candidate for chancellor . "My historical experience is that the predecessors should stay out of something like that - and I follow that," said Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday . "It doesn't mean that I don't speak to potential candidates," she added at a press appearance with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

When asked whether she wanted to remain chancellor until the end of the legislative period, regardless of the decision to chair the CDU, she evasively referred to her comments in October 2018. At that time, she had announced her withdrawal from the party presidency. In doing so, she commented on her "willingness to be Chancellor". And even then she said "that I don't interfere in the question of who will lead the CDU in the future or who will become a candidate for chancellor".

CDU is looking for new party leader: AKK meets successor candidates

Update of February 19, 10:57 am : The debate in the CDU about party leadership and chancellor candidacy is picking up speed. The CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen * again brought a member survey on the future

CDU chairmanship in conversation. He met party leader Annegret Kramp - Karrenbauer on Wednesday. Röttgen spoke of a good and friendly conversation with Kramp - Karrenbauer , "because we have both had a friendly relationship for a long time". He does not want to report details.

The potential competitors of Röttgens, ex-Union faction leader Friedrich Merz, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet * and Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn *, which are considered promising, have not yet publicly declared whether they are candidates.

Kramp-Karrenbauer had a meeting with Merz on Tuesday about the upcoming personnel decisions. On Wednesday there should be consultations first with Spahn and in the afternoon with Laschet.

ARD presenter Tina Hassel now commented on Norbert Röttgen's move to apply for the CDU chairmanship. She warned of "chaos days".

CDU crisis: Merz shoots Merkel and AKK - Til Schweiger enthusiastic: "Our man"

Update of February 18: After the resignation of CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer , several candidates position themselves within the CDU. Surprisingly, Norbert Röttgen also mixes in on Tuesday morning. The day before, CSU leader Söder had said that the CDU should clarify its party chairmanship for the time being without looking for a candidate for chancellor. Because the decision for the candidate of the Union could not be made without the CSU. Söder breaks with a statement from the outgoing chairman.

CDU is looking for AKK successor: Merz causes outrage

Update from February 17, 1:29 pm: Friedrich Merz (CDU) considers the traditional news to be out of date. At the German Association of Journalists (DJV), Merz statements caused outrage. Merz is said to have made the statements in January at an event in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. "We no longer need them," Merz is said to have said. Via their own social media channels such as YouTube, politicians could protect their own interests and "retain their own sovereignty of interpretation ," said Merz. "And that's the good news of digitization."

The task of the media does not lie in the unquestioned transcription of statements by politicians. Rather, they serve as an intermediary between politicians and citizens. In an open letter to Merz on Monday, the DJV was "highly irritated". If the potential future CDU federal chairman and candidate for chancellor "want to undermine journalists and the media as the fourth pillar of the state", the journalists' association will offer "bitter resistance", announced the DJV federal chairman Frank Überall. He asked Merz about his “understanding of the role of the media in the democratic constitutional state” and whether he considered journalists to be a “professional group that had become superfluous”.

Merz said at the " AKV Rittertalk ", a series of lectures by the Aachen Carnival Association: "At the moment there is a real shift in power between those who spread the news and those who generate the news." He continued: "In favor of those who broadcast the news Merz added: "And that's the nice thing: Today you can reach your audience via your own social media channels, via YouTube, and you can reach an audience that partly no longer reaches the public, including the private, institutionalized media . "

CDU crisis: Merz shoots AKK and Merkel - then Til Schweiger says: "This is our man"

Update from February 17: After the Thuringia debacle , Markus Söder explains: Chancellor candidate and CDU presidency do not need to be clarified in person. The CDU could deal with its presidency, but the decision for a candidate for chancellor was "not made without the CSU". So on Monday before the CSU board meeting, Söder advocates postponing the election of Union chancellor candidates.

Update from February 16, 8:55 p.m .: Is the unexpected upheaval at the top of the CDU plunging Germany into political chaos? Three party leaders have to answer this question on Sunday evening: The consequences of the Thuringian scandal are the subject of "Anne Will". Guests include CSU boss Markus Söder and his SPD counterpart Saskia Esken.

Merz shoots Merkel and AKK - then Til Schweiger says: "This is our man"

Update from February 16, 2020 at 10.45 a.m .: After his harsh criticism of AKK, Merkel and AfD voters, CDU politician Friedrich Merz is now backed by a prominent fan. Actor Til Schweiger was really enthusiastic about the Bild newspaper, as Merz was brought up in conversation. "Friedrich Merz is also someone who speaks plain text," praised Schweiger. And he is certain: "If one can get a grip on the strengthening of the AfD, then he!" The majority of the CDU members think Merz is great, the actor also said. But he also accused the party of blocking his favorite. "Actually, the CDU should say: This is our man! He asked. "But I see that an attempt is being made to prevent him."

Update from February 15, 2020, 9.46 a.m .: For Friedrich Merz 's comment that it is "pure coincidence that lows have female names at the moment" and the criticism hidden therein, of the CDU leadership duo Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Angela Merkel , criticism continues. After CDU politician Karin Prien ironically spoke on Twitter of a " special kind of spiritual and moral change " immediately after the statements, SPD leader Saskia Esken now took a verbal blow to Merz.

Merz jokes women - many politicians give him contradictions

"With his misogynistic, caustic comments, Merz shows once again that not only his jokes are from the day before yesterday ," said the politician, according to Bild.de. And even at the CDU, some women obviously didn't find Merz's comment particularly funny. They give the 64-year-old contraindications - and stick to his comparison. "Hasn't Kyrill (Greek male name) done the greatest damage in recent years?" Elke Duhme , Vice-President of the Women's Union in NRW, told Bild . And Yvonne Magwas , head of Union women in the Bundestag, made a clear announcement to Merz: "Yes, women can kindle storms," ​​she said to Bild . "The men just have to get warm beforehand."

And also a male Union politician, member of the European Parliament Dennis Radtke , commented on Merz's sip: "I do not assume that Mr. Merz is malicious at this point, but suspect the attempt to be funny," he told the newspaper. Then he also followed up with a verbal tip on Merz. Merz can also learn a lot from Armin Laschet when it comes to humor.

By the way: Not only did Friedrich Merz have criticism recently, CDU colleague Andreas Scheuer also got caught in the crossfire of critics on Twitter. You have torn Scheuer's unusual proposal for parcel delivery in the air.

2:25 p.m .: While Friedrich Merz 'side blow and AKK caused displeasure with SPD politician Karin Prien, another statement by the ex-Union parliamentary leader outraged the AfD . At the Mittelstandsforum in Berlin on Thursday evening, Merz had pleaded to win back voters who had left the AfD instead of promoting them on the left. In this way, the CDU could help to halve the AfD's electorate. He wanted to contribute to "this rabble disappearing," Merz had said.

Merz describes AfD voters as "rabble" - Group leader Gauland is outraged

The AfD parliamentary group leader Alexander Gauland reacted to this statement on Friday. "The devaluation of the AfD and its voters as 'rabble' by Friedrich Merz is completely unacceptable, " said the politician in Berlin. Gauland continued to criticize that it was "irresponsible and negligent to take such a tone in the face of political competition."

Meanwhile , Merz has already defused his statement regarding the AfD. He had "used this word in the course of a discussion about right-wing radicalism and violent demonstrators, but of course it did not mean elected parliamentarians or voters of any party," the CDU politician said via his Twitter account.

I used this word in #Berlin yesterday in a discussion of #Right radicalism and violent demonstrators, but of course I was not referring to elected MPs from any party. (tm) #mankind #mar

According to a report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Merz had declared at an event of the Forum Mittelstand in Berlin that the "strengthening of right-wing political forces" shamed him. Thirty years after the turning point and comparatively high election results for NPD and Republicans , you have "these people sitting there": "If I can help this rabble to disappear, then I will make this contribution."

Merz hands out against AKK and Merkel - his audience reacts with laughter

Friedrich Merz distributed verbal tips against AKK and Angela Merkel.

© dpa / Kay Nietfeld

Update of February 14, 2020, 10:04 a.m .: Friedrich Merz is currently in the race for Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer's successor - and shared with the two women in the leadership of the CDU, AKK and Chancellor Angela at a performance on Thursday evening in the "Ballhaus Berlin" Merkel, out. But you had to be careful to understand your cleverly formulated criticism . Because he called neither Kramp-Karrenbauer nor Merkel by name.

Regarding the day of AKK's resignation, Merz said according to a report by Bild.de : “This February 10th will go down in the history of the Federal Republic as a day of the storm. But not only outside, but also inside. Incidentally, it's a coincidence that lows have female names at the moment. “There was laughter in the hall for this verbal tip. And Merz replied: “It changes every year. Yes, they know that, it does not allow any political associations. ”The audience acknowledged his smug statements again with laughter .

At least at the end of his digression on the naming of meteorological highs and lows, he conceded: "The bad news for all men is: next year it will be the other way round." According to Bild.de , he also had 15 years as Chancellor at the end words of praise . The last 15 years have been good years for the Federal Republic, he said. Now the CDU and CSU would have to clarify some factual questions.

Merz had to listen to criticism for his deep saying from the ranks of the SPD: General Secretary Lars Klingbeil tweeted that Merz wanted "to be picked up from the 19th century" - "what a chauvi!". But even a CDU politician did not find the gag to laugh at all. "Herrenwitz reloaded", etched the Schleswig-Holstein Minister of Education Karin Prien . "A special kind of intellectual and moral change."

#Herrenwitz reloaded. A special kind of intellectual and moral change. Https://t.co/0sJUWYATYP

Merz clearly ahead in Chancellor survey - tough words against union of values

Update of February 13, 9:55 p.m .: There is much to suggest that Friedrich Merz will be the next candidate for chancellor in the Union. So also a current survey by Infratest dimap for the ARD Germany trend: Here Merz is at the top with 40 percent approval for the question "Who would be a good CDU candidate for Chancellor?". He is followed by Bavaria's Prime Minister Söder (31), NRW chief Armin Laschet (30) and health minister Jens Spahn (24).

Union supporters speak even more clearly for Merz: here he is 69 percent ahead of Söder (53), Laschet (43) and Spahn (24).

The Union loses one point on the Sunday question of the Bundestag election, but leads the poll result with 26 percent ahead of the Greens (22, +0), the improved SPD (16, +2) and the AfD (14, +0) Left (9, +0) and the FDP (7, -1).

Update of February 13, 8:07 p.m .: Former Union faction leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) has distanced itself from the conservative union of values. Merz said on Thursday evening at a medium- sized company forum in Berlin: "It would be good if this union of values did not exist." He does not find it very sympathetic what comes from this side. Merz also spoke of a cry for help that certain issues would no longer be discussed as some groups in the Union wished.

The Union of Values was founded almost three years ago, initially as a “freedom-conservative departure” and above all as a reaction to Chancellor Angela Merkel's (CDU) refugee policy. The conservative group claims to have more than 4,000 members.

CDU crisis: Merz meets Laschet at economic council meeting

Update of February 13, 6.42 p.m .: Ex-Union faction leader Friedrich Merz and his possible competitor for the party presidency, NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet , attended a meeting of the CDU Economic Council on Thursday. Laschet gave a lecture under the motto "New dynamics in Germany and Europe", the German press agency learned on Thursday evening from party circles. At the non-public meeting, he presented his ideas on how the Union should reorganize itself after Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer's announced withdrawal.

Merz then came to an event organized by the Berlin “Forum Mittelstand”. There he wanted a lecture entitled "What now Germany? - (Way) in a good future! " When he arrived shortly after 6 p.m., Merz was greeted with applause and cheers . Members of the Union's offspring from the Junge Union held up signs with inscriptions such as "Ein Herz für Merz" or " Kanzler Merz ".

It was unclear whether Merz would officially announce his candidacy for party leadership. On Wednesday evening, the German press agency had learned from Merz's closest environment that he was determined to run. Merz knew the party base behind and felt encouraged by current polls, it said. It was also unclear whether Merz also wanted to become a candidate for chancellor.

Update from 5.15 p.m .: Ralf Höcker , Federal Spokesman for the Conservative Union of Values , resigns from all his political positions due to threats. "Two hours ago, it was made very clear to me that I have to end my political engagement immediately if I don't want to fear" consequences ", wrote the Cologne lawyer on Thursday on Facebook. “The announcement was credible and unmistakable. I bow to the pressure and immediately resign from all my political positions and declare myself to leave all political organizations. ”

The chairman of the Union of Values , Alexander Mitsch, confirmed the resignation to the German Press Agency. "I can understand that he doesn't want to continue under the pressure and deeply regret and condemn that such things are possible in Germany," said Mitsch. Deutschlandfunk had previously reported on Höcker's resignation.

CDU: rapid change of leadership to Merz or Laschet?

1.30 p.m .: Could the change of leadership at the CDU possibly take place more quickly than initially thought? The CDU headquarters was open to convening a special party convention for the election of the new chairman. The outgoing party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wants to hold talks with successor prospects such as Friedrich Merz and Armin Laschet next week. In a board meeting on February 24th she wants to inform about the current status.

Successor contender Friedrich Merz , however, was already applying the brakes and warned against too much hurry. There was no reason to be hectic when looking for a successor, he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Wednesday evening. "We have to talk to each other in peace."

Friedrich Merz positions himself for CDU chair - column at Welt am Sonntag is discontinued

9.26 a.m .: Friedrich Merz (CDU) positions itself. Step by step. Since the waiver of his party colleague and CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer , Germany has been waiting for the bang, which is predicted with Friedrich Merz as a future CDU candidate from various places. Voices from the SPD, the Greens and the Left, but also within the CDU, expect Merz to be an unforgivable shift to the right. Others, especially the conservative wing of the Union or the arch-conservative Union of Values ​​* hope with Merz that the weakened party will regain strength.

On Wednesday, just three days after Kramp-Karrenbauer's surprising statement, Merz announced his interest in the CDU chairmanship and in the candidacy for chancellor. Hardly surprising, since the lawyer has been trying to fight to the top of the party since 2018. While he is still waiting for another statement in Germany, Merz has to give up one of his platforms. His political comeback is not compatible with his column in the Welt am Sonntag . Johannes Boie, editor in chief Welt am Sonntag , tweeted on Wednesday evening that the time had now come to give up the collaboration. A small but clear sign of the seriousness of Friedrich Merz's plans.

, @_FriedrichMerz and I have decided together that now is a good time to end his column in #WELTAMSONNTAG. I thank him for his great lyrics - and him and his team for the great collaboration.

Friedrich Merz apparently wants to run for CDU chairmanship - does he reveal more today?

Update from February 13, 6.51 a.m .: Friedrich Merz wants to run for the CDU party chair. The German Press Agency (dpa) wants to know this from its closest environment. Merz is therefore eagerly awaiting an appearance this Thursday evening in Berlin at around 6:30 p.m.

Already in the morning (10 a.m.) a current hour is planned for the consequences of the Thuringian state election in the North Rhine-Westphalian state parliament . NRW Prime Minister Armin Laschet is another potential successor to the CDU chairmanship. In addition to Laschet, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn is mentioned again and again. Spahn had said on Wednesday that he was ready to take responsibility, he had always said that. "But in what constellation this will happen, we'll talk about it in the next few days."

Laschet apparently relies on an amicable solution in the personnel debate. The German Press Agency in Berlin learned from circles of the North Rhine-Westphalian CDU that Laschet supported the party-agreed path in the personnel discussion, which also supported the Bundestag faction.

On Wednesday evening, Bodo Ramelow also spoke on TV with Sandra Maischberger about the Thuringian political quake. He made harsh allegations to the AfD * - and reacted increasingly to Maischberger's questions during the program.

Friedrich Merz apparently wants to run for CDU presidency: appearance on Thursday in Berlin

Update from February 12, 8:24 p.m .: Tomorrow, Thursday, Friedrich Merz speaks at the Ballhaus Berlin and observers hope for a comment on the reports about his decision to run for the CDU chairmanship.

His topic “What now Germany? - (Way) into a good future ”at the“ Forum Mittelstand ”is certainly designed for capital and economic questions. An election slogan could certainly also be derived from this.

Friedrich Merz apparently wants to run for CDU chairmanship

First report from February 12, 5:57 p.m .: Berlin - Friedrich Merz was traded as a possible successor immediately after AKK's announcement of resignation . At first he spoke out clearly against a vote by the members, then gave in and is said to have now made the decision to run for the post of CDU chairman , as the German Press Agency (DPA) is supposed to have learned.

CDU: AKK resigns after election disaster in Thuringia - who inherits the union boss?

After the disastrous prime minister election in Thuringia *, Kramp-Karrenbauer had drawn a line. Now, according to the plans of the outgoing CDU leader , a suitable candidate for chancellor should be found by summer.

In addition to Armin Laschet * and Friedrich Merz , Jens Spahn and Markus Söder (CSU) are also considered potential candidates for Chancellor . With the exception of Markus Söder, who, however, already publicly rejected a candidacy, this would also go hand in hand with taking over the party chairmanship .

CDU chair: Friedrich Merz apparently wants to run for AKK successor

As the German Press Agency now wants to know from the environment of Friedrich Merz , he has made his decision and will run for the office of party leader .

Video: Friedrich Merz and his million dollar businesses

This would make the former leader the first to speak clearly. So far, there has been great reluctance among the possible candidates for the AKK successor *.

Friedrich Merz: Should election to the CDU chairmanship not be a member decision?

It was no secret that Friedrich Merz was very interested in chairing the CDU . In the fall of last year, he narrowly lost to AKK in the election to succeed Angela Merkel.

The DPA continues to report that Merz is determined and believes the party base is behind. Current surveys should support this opinion.

Nevertheless, the 64-year-old probably does not want to completely submit to the decision of the members . For example, Merz is supposed to support a member survey, but reject a binding decision .

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

CDU politician Wolfgang Bosbach recently found himself in need of explanation - the reason was an advertisement against Werner Hansch, who borrowed money from Bosbach in unusual circumstances.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Jacqueline Krause-Burberg