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Now he did it.
Friedrich Merz is the new CDU leader.
With a proud 94.62 percent, the 1001 delegates at the digital party conference on Saturday elected him chairman.
»Friedrich Merz has thus been elected the new CDU chairman.«
Visibly touched, he accepted the election - it was already his third attempt at this office:
OT Friedrich Merz, CDU chairman
“I accept the election result. And I am deeply moved and impressed by this election result. Thank you very much."
In his speech before the election results were announced, Merz called for a new start and unity:
OT Friedrich Merz, CDU chairman
"We, the new leadership of the CDU, must now ensure a clear course. But before the parenthesis of every decision on factual issues, there is the question of working together in the Union. We call ourselves bourgeois, and if that's to be right, then above all we have to behave like that among ourselves. And so once again and for the last time from this point: What we experienced in the Union in 2021 must not and will not be repeated. That is why we are setting out on this path from this party congress today. So I know, and we all know, the responsibility that now rests on our shoulders. But we trust ourselves. We want to tackle this task with determination, with courage and also with a bit of happiness.«
In the run-up to the party congress, the base had already spoken out in favor of Merz as party leader.
His predecessor Armin Laschet also expressly supported Merz.
He himself only held the post for a year.
OT Armin Laschet, outgoing CDU chairman
»Friedrich Merz has a huge backing, far beyond the different ideas and wings of our party. And therefore: dress warmly, the CDU is coming back. And I personally think that Friedrich Merz is exactly the right person at this time.«
Formally, however, Merz is not yet in office: the digital election of the delegates must be confirmed in writing, the counting of the votes should take place on January 31st.