For the third time in three years, Friedrich Merz is applying for chairmanship of the CDU. The former group leader is aware that this is anything but normal. But he now wants to “do it right”.
Ex-Union faction leader Friedrich Merz justified his third candidacy for the CDU chairmanship within three years with the broad support of the base for him and his ties to the party. “Yes, there is something irrational about it,” said Merz on Monday evening at the first of three rounds of introductions of the applicants for the party chairmanship for CDU members, when a participant asked why he was running again.
Parts of his family and many friends would have asked him: “Why are you doing this again,” said Merz. In February, after his defeat by the outgoing party leader Armin Laschet, he asked himself the question for a few weeks: “Do you want to do this again?” In the end, he was asked to run again for the Bundestag in the Hochsauerlandkreis. In this context, he decided that if the grass-roots level were to be involved in the decision on the party chairmanship, “then I will and I cannot avoid the wish to run again”.
Friedrich Merz: “Can’t say no then either”
“I admit it’s extraordinary,” said Merz. There has never been anything like it in the history of the CDU. On the other hand, the CDU is a very important part of his life, and he has always felt closely connected to the party. His wife said this was a weakness, but: “I can’t say no either.” Merz emphasized: “If I do it, then I’ll do it right. And that’s why I’m here tonight.”
In addition to Merz, the executive head of the Chancellery, Helge Braun, and foreign policy specialist Norbert Röttgen are applying for the CDU chairmanship. The presentation of Röttgen follows this Wednesday (7.30 p.m.), that of Braun on Thursday (6.30 p.m.). For the first time, the approximately 400,000 CDU members are to make a preliminary decision on the future chairman in a survey that will start at the beginning of December. The new chairman is to be elected on January 21 by the 1001 delegates at a party conference in Hanover.
Member surveys should remain an exception
Such “member surveys and this form of participation in management decisions must remain the exception,” emphasized Merz on Monday, however. He is against deciding important questions in the party in the future through member surveys. But he wanted the party leadership to involve the members more “in the issues, the issues,” said Merz. “I want this party to think more from the bottom up again.” But he still has the right to lead the party.
Source From: Stern
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