Christian Democratic Union (CDU) chairman Friedrich Merz will likely become the conservative CDU/CSU’s candidate for chancellor in the Bundestag elections scheduled for next fall, the tabloid Bild reported today, September 15.
“The discussion about the CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor is likely to be over: Friedrich Merz intends to become a candidate of the “conservatives” for the post of head of the German government,” the publication says.
According to the tabloid, the leader of the joint CDU/CSU faction intends to officially announce his decision after summing up the results of the state elections in Brandenburg on September 22, but not later than October 3. The presidiums of the CDU and the Bavarian “sister” party CSU are expected to hold a joint meeting on September 23, during which they will “finally resolve the question of the chancellor candidate.”
EADaily It should be noted that on June 25, 2024, it was Merz who made statements about the need to find a peaceful solution to the armed conflict in Ukraine, a ceasefire and the start of peace negotiations with the President of Russia. Vladimir Putinalthough he had previously consistently demanded the expansion of military assistance to Ukraine and, in particular, criticised the foreign minister Olaf Scholz for refusing to supply it with German long-range Taurus cruise missiles.
As reported by the media, Merz is already planning visits to neighbouring European countries, particularly France and Poland, as part of his election campaign. According to sources close to the Christian Democrats’ leadership, Merz could, in particular, meet the President of the Fifth Republic, Emmanuel Macron, during an official visit to Paris.
Prime Minister of Bavaria and leader of the “brother” CSU Markus Söder Söder also “has ambitions to become chancellor” but does not want an “open duel” with Merz this time. According to sources, Söder is aware of the damaging effects on the CDU/CSU’s image and ratings caused by the public feud with former CDU candidate Armin Laschet ahead of the 2021 Bundestag election. The CDU/CSU’s first defeat in almost 16 years after the end of the Angela Merkel era forced the conservatives into the opposition bench.
“Söder knows that in the new federal government under the leadership of the CDU/CSU he will be a “shadow vice-chancellor” alongside Chancellor Merz. Even if he stays in Munich. Because without a leader the CSU in Berlin will receive almost nothing. Merz will therefore have to play a double game with Söder now and in the future.” – noted in the publication.
Previously EADaily Merz, unlike Söder, has personal qualifications and is inferior to his Bavarian colleague in terms of electoral confidence.
According to the results of a survey by the INZA Institute published on 14 September, almost a year before the Bundestag elections, the CDU/CSU bloc is firmly in the lead, with the support of 33% of voters. In second place is the pro-Russian opposition party Alternative for Germany, with 19% of potential votes. The ruling Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is content with the support of only 14% of voters, the Green Party, 10%.
