European policy for Armin Laschet: Chancellor candidate has a new job

Created: 01/25/2022, 17:34

By: Andreas Schmid

Armin Laschet gets a new job.

© Sepp Spiegl/Imago

New office for Armin Laschet: The candidate for Chancellor of the Union can become more involved in European politics.

No new terrain for the Rhinelander.

Strasbourg – Recently it had become extremely quiet around Armin Laschet.

After the disappointing performance in the federal elections as the Union's candidate for chancellor, the CDU politician only sits as a simple member of the Bundestag.

Hendrik Wüst succeeded him as Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Friedrich Merz will replace him as CDU leader.

Laschet, in turn, will now also get a new post.

Armin Laschet elected Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Laschet is the new Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

MEPs from the institution's 47 member states elected the Rhinelander to office in Strasbourg on Monday.

"I am pleased to be able to contribute to the important work of the Council of Europe," said von Laschet after the election.

The Council of Europe stands for the promotion of human rights, democracy and peace in Europe.

The current situation in the east of the continent makes it clear how important these tasks are for all of Europe.

Laschet is now one of a total of 20 vice-presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Vice-President represents the President in his absence or when he takes part in debates as a speaker and then chairs the sessions of the Assembly.

Due to its size, Germany is entitled to one vice-president each year, smaller countries take turns.

At the session on Monday, MPs also elected a new president, Tiny Kox from the Netherlands.

The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, monitors human rights in its member countries and is not an organ of the European Union.

Armin Laschet: Chancellor candidate returns to European politics

European policy is Laschet's hobbyhorse. Born in Aachen, he was a member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2005. In the meantime, he also held the office of Minister for Federal Affairs, Europe and the Media in North Rhine-Westphalia. The deputy parliamentary group leader of the Union, Johann David Wadephul, therefore welcomed the election of the 60-year-old: "In Armin Laschet, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has an experienced, internationally experienced and well-connected politician from the ranks of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group as its vice-president chosen."

Incidentally, Laschet is currently officially the head of the CDU.

Merz was elected to office with a clear majority.

Since a postal vote is still required for confirmation for legal reasons, Merz will probably not take over the office from Laschet until the end of January.