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Armin Laschet, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia
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Federico Gambarini / dpa
The CDU chairman Armin Laschet demands a quick decision on the Union candidate for chancellor.
The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia warned when nominating the candidate for chancellor in the "Bild am Sonntag" to hurry: "If I consider the mood across the board of the CDU, the decision should be made very quickly." However, no candidate for chancellor will be announced.
Rather, it is about the Corona crisis.
»The party leaders of the CDU and CSU are there as guests to closely interlink our work.
That is clearly expected there. "
Laschet made it clear that he rejects a codecision by the Bundestag faction on the candidate for chancellor, which some politicians are calling for: "The CDU and CSU governing bodies decide on the question of the candidate for chancellor."
Laschet and the CSU leader and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder had repeatedly emphasized that they wanted to clarify the question of the candidate for chancellor among themselves by Pentecost.
"I think it's right if Germany orders vaccines for everyone and not everyone for himself"
Some of Laschet's statements in the interview could be understood as swipes against Söder.
In response to the interviewer's statement that he and Söder were engaged in a “power struggle with teasing and allusions”, Laschet replied: “You won't find any taunts, filthy things or anything like that with me.
That is not my style.
The pandemic is too serious for party political games. «The term» filthiness «was coined by the former CSU boss Horst Seehofer years ago in a derogatory remark about Söder.
Laschet also recalled that the CSU had gone on a confrontational course against the refugee policy of the CDU and Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“For years I have been in agreement with the Chancellor on basic political issues - from saving the euro to refugee policy.
Even when the conflict with the CSU over a European refugee policy escalated two years ago, «said Laschet.
"Such a rift must never be repeated in the Union." The Union should build on Merkel's era.
"Angela Merkel's course and style have done the country good," said the CDU leader.
"We would do well to build on that."
Laschet urges the vaccination sequence to be canceled
Laschet would like to cancel the vaccination sequence in the spring and release the anti-corona syringes for all German citizens.
“When the large amounts of vaccine come in late spring, vaccination priorities should fall and vaccinations should be opened to everyone.
That would be an important building block for the bridge to a summer with much more freedom, "said the CDU chief.
mjm / Reuters