“Dear Armin” - a double U-turn in the Union: Merkel and Söder as Laschet's campaign engines

The Union is entering the hot phase of the election campaign.

Angela Merkel and Markus Söder show a new face.

Armin Laschet can only be right.

He needs the support.

Berlin - The power of images.

Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has already experienced it in this election campaign.

When he laughed in the background on the edge of the flood disaster during a speech by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, it fell on his feet for days.

At the start of the CDU / CSU election campaign in Berlin, there were other images that Laschet created - and that he urgently needed.

Bundestag election: The Union and the power of images - Merkel, Söder and Laschet together

After Laschet's campaign speech, both Chancellor Angela Merkel and CSU leader Markus Söder came on stage and demonstratively stood next to the joint candidate for chancellor.

The desired message: Armin, we stand by you.

Laschet looked visibly pleased with the public confidence he had shown.

Now you can dismiss the scenery as a nice press photo and don't have to overinterpret it by any means.

Nevertheless, during the event in the Berlin Tempodrom, one always had the feeling that Merkel and Söder wanted to convey exactly this image.

They had presented themselves quite differently in the past and Laschet had not always given so much support.

(With our brand new politics newsletter you will always stay up to date on the final spurt towards the federal election.)

CDU / CSU: Merkel jumps aside Laschet - "Dear Armin, I know that exactly"

The Chancellor largely held back in the election campaign.

Finally, at the end of September, after 16 years as chancellor, she resigned and paved the way for a new manager.

While the silence of the long-time CDU leader was interpreted by some observers as a lack of Laschet support, Merkel always emphasized that she simply had other tasks.

Now she clearly took the side of the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister.

U-turn number one.

Merkel has known Laschet since his time in the Bundestag (1994 to 1998).

"Over the years I have seen Armin Laschet as a person and a politician for whom the 'C' in the name of our party is not just any letter, but rather the compass in everything he has done." It is always important to the Rhinelander been to focus on people with their inviolable dignity and to build bridges between people.

Addressing Laschet directly, Merkel said: "Dear Armin, I know that this is exactly what guides and shapes your actions." This applies to the chancellor candidate and, she is deeply convinced, also to Laschet as Chancellor, added the head of government to the applause of the Pendant.

CDU / CSU: Söder praises Laschet - "Dear Armin, you can rely on me"

In addition to Angela Merkel's statements, Laschet was also pleased about those of his former Frankish adversary. Instead of the poison arrows from Munich that have been flying more and more frequently, Söder was very cautious on Saturday. Taunts? Nothing. Instead: A permanent emphasis on the community. Söder's clear message: “Dear Armin, you can rely on my support. I mean it honestly. ”U-turn number two.

Söder warned again because of the falling polls and insisted: "I don't feel like opposition." At the same time, however, he also stood vehemently behind Laschet.

Clear leadership is needed in serious times.

"And clear leadership can only establish the union with Armin Laschet." Previously, Söder had

ruled out

in an interview with

Münchner Merkur

that there would be an exchange of chancellors, but at the same time poked against Laschet.

On Saturday in Berlin, Söder refrained from attacks.

Because she can't use the Union at the moment.

Bundestag election: Laschet and the Union are looking at poor poll results

In the polls, the SPD and the Greens are getting closer and closer.

In the current ARD “Germany trend”, the Union is even on par with the Social Democrats when it comes to the desire for government responsibility.

When asked about personality, Laschet also comes across increasingly poor approval ratings.

Incidentally, his party colleagues Angela Merkel and Markus Söder are at the top of the political ranking.

The fact that they are now so strongly behind Laschet is therefore worth more than just a nice photo.

At least if this message conveyed within the Union also reaches the voters.

There are still 36 days until the general election.

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