Merkel renounces new posts before the CDU party conference - "No longer fits in with the times"

Created: 01/21/2022 12:33 p.m

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) leaves the hall during a session of the Bundestag (archive image) © Michael Kappeler/dpa

Angela Merkel is no longer chancellor.

But she still gets job and post offers.

Now she has made another decision.

Berlin - Merkel has so far remained true to the line she drew for her retirement as chancellor: namely, to stay away from politics to a large extent.

According to the outgoing CDU party leader Armin Laschet, the former head of government Angela Merkel * does not want to become honorary chairman of the CDU *.

The basic question is whether that is still appropriate, said Laschet in the RTL / ntv "early start".

"Angela Merkel also came to the decision: It no longer fits in with the times.

We don't have an honorary chairman - that's a tradition from the past that doesn't exist at the federal level," said the CDU politician.

Angela Merkel renounces honorary presidency of the CDU

The question of the honorary chairmanship was discussed with regard to an old case.

"The last honorary chairman was Helmut Kohl, who then resigned from the honorary chairmanship."

Former Chancellor Kohl gave up his honorary presidency in 2000 because of the donation scandal.

On Saturday, the CDU meets for its party conference, at which Friedrich Merz is to be elected as the new chairman*.

Merkel has also been offered another post - by the UN.

But even then she politely declined.

Shortly before her retirement, when asked what she wanted to do when she retired, she repeatedly emphasized that she wanted to sleep first and also travel a lot.

At the Federal Assembly to elect the Federal President on February 13, she will have a small appearance again.