Armin Laschet has 99 problems – and the formation of a government is not one of them. The CDU party leader is fighting for political survival. Does he have a chance?
If you listen carefully, you think you can hear it: the swan song for Armin Laschet. Some in the Union voices him loudly, who called for his resignation as party leader the day after the general election. Others still hesitate in the choice of their intonation, who only hum their criticism of the candidate with pressed lips. And one of them confidently picks up the microphone, as if he still thinks he is the voice on Modern Talking.
But how to turn it: Laschet is counted. Eleven days after the federal election, which was disastrous for the CDU and CSU, he gets a lot on his ears. After the election failure, many in the Union expressed the desire for a quick fresh start. There is even talk of the time after him – although, for all that is known, he is still the party leader. Is that it for Laschet?
The thing with the “biscuit”
There are some indications that his political career could come to an end soon. Laschet has 99 problems – ranging from to – and the formation of a government has not been one of them since Wednesday. The Greens and the FDP want to first explore the possibility of a coalition with the SPD, but they rejected talks about an alliance under the leadership of the Union. And with it Laschet’s only realistic power option. Angry tongues would also say: his last right to exist as party leader.
But there are also circumstances that keep Laschet in play. Even if the ailing CDU chairman is unlikely to have his fate in his own hands.
First there is the “biscuit” that has “not yet been eaten” – presented by the Greens co-boss Robert Habeck. Meant: a Jamaica alliance, there is still a traffic light failure. Contrary to the fact that the first traffic light talks would mean a “de facto rejection of Jamaica”, the option is theoretically not off the table. That is how the liberals want it to be understood.
On Wednesday evening, FDP leader Christian Lindner pointed out that Jamaica “remains a viable option” – “I expressly say that to the CSU.” The next day, Secretary General Volker Wissing added, who saw “further close links to the Union in terms of content”. “That’s why we didn’t think it was very wise that Mr. Söder has now taken opportunities off the table.” Konstantin Kuhle, the domestic policy spokesman for the FDP, even went one step further: he cited the reason that exploratory talks with the Union had not taken place.
The latter statement may be a legend. Nonetheless, it shows the liberals’ annoyance that Söder is trying to crumble the biscuit – although Laschet continues to assert that he is “ready for further talks”. It seems unrealistic at the moment that these will still take place. Nevertheless: The CDU boss could still be needed.
And then?
Who else, as CDU chief, would take a seat at it if the negotiating table was still set? A logical successor does not impose itself, those with the corresponding ambitions still remain under cover – probably connected with the self-knowledge that they are not considered as bearers of hope that everyone in the party could agree on. After Laschet’s departure, the CDU could face another protracted and exhausting leadership struggle – which would make an already crisis-ridden Union look anything but capable of governing.
In addition, Laschet does not (yet) reveal that he would voluntarily quit – like his predecessor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who after persistent criticism probably threw in the towel out of inner extinction.
This raises the question of how his successor would and should be organized at all – through a (special) party congress, with or without the participation of the grassroots through a member survey? There are also different views.
The CDU seems headless and course-free. The situation is confusing, the situation is quite ambivalent – Laschet will probably keep Laschet in office for the time being. But the final chord for Laschet could soon follow: As the newspaper reported, the exhibition hall in Dresden was already blocked for the beginning of December – for a CDU federal party conference, which could be the stage for the swan song.
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