Armin Laschet has indicated his retirement - who should succeed him as CDU leader?
Friedrich Merz rules out one thing for himself on the question.
Berlin - “There is absolutely no reason to dramatize this situation,” says Friedrich Merz in the latest edition of “Maybrit Illner” (ZDF) - it's about the Union's slump in the votes.
The CDU and CSU would have liked to have won the federal election.
"We could have won them if we had done it right," believes the ex-Union faction leader.
“But we just lost her.
And that's democracy, ”he continues.
Did the Union have the wrong candidate for Chancellor in Armin Laschet ?, journalist Illner wants to know.
"No, basically the mistakes are a long time ago," replies Merz.
The fact that the chairmanship of the party and the chancellery at the Union have not been in one hand since 2018 was, in retrospect, a "serious strategic mistake".
CDU chairmanship after Laschet: Merz leaves personal plans open at Illner
In the talk it also turned out that the CDU economic expert Merz is undecided whether he will run again for the CDU party chairmanship.
However, he excludes himself from starting again in a fight vote.
“Whether or not I will run for party chairmanship again is a question that I have not finally dealt with,” says Merz.
"I rule out one thing: I will not go into a controversial vote at a federal party congress again."
Merz had recently stood for chairmanship twice at CDU federal party conferences and was defeated twice - first in 2018 against Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, then against Laschet at the beginning of this year.
Merz bei Illner on membership in the Union: "Is an open question"
In the panel discussion, Merz welcomed the fact that CDU boss Laschet is striving for a consensus-based solution in terms of realigning the CDU.
"The question of how we include the base - our 400,000 members - in this decision is an open question," said Merz.
He thinks it is right “that we are talking about membership participation”.
The personal realignment of the CDU - “from the chairman to the presidium right through to the federal executive committee” should now be tackled quickly.
CDU boss Laschet wants to propose to the party's top bodies after the historic election defeat a party congress to reorganize the CDU.
He said that on Thursday in Berlin.
Laschet spoke of reorganization, Merz assures "Illner".
There will be no “vacuum” or “transition without leadership” at the CDU.
Friedrich Merz in Maybrit-Illner's ZDF talk: "Union is ready"
If Laschet were to negotiate “Jamaica” - if the other parties wanted it - Illner also wants to know on the show.
"As long as this chairman is in office, this chairman is in office," Merz replies only indirectly.
It's really easy.
“That sounds very simple, but if it were so, it would be easy to formulate,” snaps Illner back.
Laschet speaks of “reconciliation” - but that doesn't sound like “I'm clearing the way!”, Explains the journalist her objection.
Another indirect answer from Merz: The "responsibility" for government talks would now lie with the SPD, Greens and FDP, but the Union would be "ready".
What about the sister party CSU?
Illner addresses the behavior of the Bavarian Prime Minister in the election campaign: "Did Markus Söder ever stop fighting Armin Laschet after it became clear that he would be a candidate for Chancellor?", She wants to know from Merz.
The CDU politician admits - without mentioning Söder's name - that more than 60 percent of the voters would have noticed before the general election that the Union was divided.
(frs)
