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Armin Laschet during his report as chairman of the CDU
Photo: Chris Emil Janssen / imago images / Chris Emil Janssen
The outgoing party leader Armin Laschet advised the CDU to have more self-confidence and better cooperation.
"Dress warmly, the CDU will be back," said Laschet at the digital party conference in Berlin.
The SPD tries to portray it as if the CDU were on the ground and destroyed.
He said: "Don't make a mistake." The CDU is more than a federal party, it governs in many federal states and also wants to win the upcoming state elections this year.
Election defeat an "open wound"
Laschet expressly supported his designated successor Friedrich Merz, who had support far beyond the different wings and was "just the right person at this time".
He called for intra-party solidarity and confidentiality.
"We have to learn to work seriously again." It must also be accepted that the CDU and CSU will never again argue as they did last time about the chancellor candidacy.
Laschet, who prevailed in a power struggle against CSU boss Markus Söder, again emphasized his responsibility for the election defeat.
“It's an open wound, still.
And the scar will remain.«
Merz thanked Laschet for his “great commitment” to the CDU. It honors Laschet that he took personal responsibility for the election defeat. However, the CDU “lost the election together”. He and Laschet were opponents and competitors when he was elected party leader a year ago, said Merz. But it never turned into a personal enmity. He is looking forward to further cooperation with Laschet in the Bundestag.
The outgoing CDU general secretary Paul Ziemiak called on the delegates and members of the CDU to "full support" for the new party leadership.
A new chapter in the history of the CDU begins with the party conference.
"I wish us all the courage to engage in social debate in the struggle for the best solutions along the way." Ziemiak also spoke out in favor of Mario Czaja as his successor.
svs/dpa/AFP