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Hendrik Wüst is Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia
Photo: Malte Krudewig / dpa
After the decision of the Greens to support a second term in office of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the presidia of the CDU and CSU will meet at short notice on Wednesday morning.
In a digital meeting, the closest management bodies of the Union parties want to discuss what the Greens' vote now means for their own planning with a view to the Federal Assembly.
According to the statement by the Green leaders on Tuesday morning, it can be assumed that the Union will not pitch anyone against incumbent Steinmeier when the Federal Assembly meets on February 12 to elect the head of state.
Until recently, leading Union representatives had hoped to be able to lure the Greens with the proposal of a bipartisan candidate against Steinmeier, and discussions have been held in recent days.
Together with the Greens, the Union would have a simple majority in the Federal Assembly.
So far, there have been no advocates in the Union for the plan to put up an applicant against Steinmeier who would have no chance in the race and would therefore be a pure counting candidate.
Wüst would like to vote for Steinmeier
North Rhine-Westphalia's CDU leader and Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, who had publicly presented the idea of a cross-party candidate against Steinmeier several times, now wants to support the incumbent - and was disappointed with the Greens.
"It is understandable that in the new political situation they find themselves in a conflict between aspiration and implementation," said Wüst.
"Nevertheless: the rejection of a new departure at the top of the state is a missed opportunity." A Federal President, "who stands for a cosmopolitan and progressive Germany, would have been a strong sign in this time of upheaval," said the Christian Democrat.
Wüst explained: "I have always made it clear that there can be no candidacy without the prospect of a majority - that would only damage the desire for more women in the highest state offices after the departure of Angela Merkel." The office of the Federal President "deserves respect" , said the CDU politician.
"Out of this state-political responsibility, I will personally support Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a second term."
flo / heh