Press
The CDU leader only received 89.9 percent in his re-election at the Berlin party conference. His opponents in his own party have not yet given up. A comment by Georg Anastasiadis.
The CDU, party leader Friedrich Merz once sighed, only learns to love its chairmen when they are chancellor. Things haven’t gotten that far in his case yet. At least the 68-year-old and the party, in which many were at odds with their sometimes somewhat wooden boss for a long time, are gradually getting used to each other: almost 90 percent approval in the re-election as party leader is a solid sign of trust, even if not the dream result that was secretly hoped for Opponents and rivals are prohibited from continuing to subtly sow doubts about him as the right candidate for chancellor.
Merz did not allow himself to be distracted at the CDU party conference
There was no lack of attempts until right before the party conference. A news magazine, clearly encouraged by party friends, reported alleged worries that Merz could not control his short temper. And Northern Prime Minister “Comrade” Daniel Günther revealed in a newspaper interview how great his phantom pain still is over Angela Merkel’s disappearance. But this time Merz did not allow himself to be provoked, gave a strong speech that was not always inspiring, but statesmanlike and appropriate to the seriousness of our times and that led the CDU from the left-wing Merkel center back to its old place in the center-right – there , where it belongs if it doesn’t want to leave too much space for the right-wing seducers. The Sauerlander only allowed himself a small luxury: he left his predecessor, who was so missed by his opponents, completely unmentioned.
After the Berlin party conference, Merz is still the uncrowned king of the CDU and the reserve chancellor. Not as pleasing and flexible as Wüst, not as rousing as Söder, but unwavering, predictable and principled. Only an accident in the East German autumn elections, such as a collapse of the AfD firewall, or plummeting poll numbers could bring Wüst and Söder back into play. The CSU boss will use the opportunity to impress the sister party with a brilliant guest appearance today. But he is also a realist. A CSU grandee with a sense of humor recently answered the question about Söder’s K chances: “A brick would have to fall on Merz’s head. And then a brick would have to hit Wüst.” And then Söder would have to prove that he wasn’t the one who threw the stone. (Georg Anastasiadis)
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