The CDU chairman and designated Union candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, does not expect any crossfire from CSU leader Markus Söder in the upcoming federal election campaign. “I am now quite certain, also from our cooperation over the last two and a half years, that I can really rely on Markus Söder, and also on the entire CSU,” said Merz in a ZDF special.
“We know that 2021 must not be repeated”Merz stressed. At the time, Söder had also promised his full support to the candidate for chancellor, Armin Laschet (CDU), but during the election campaign, with his constant taunts, he contributed to the Union being seen as divided in the eyes of many people – and ultimately lost the election.
The Union wants and must win the federal election next year in the service of the country, said Merz. “And that is why I am confident in my assessment.”
Söder, who had also shown ambitions to run for chancellor, now let Merz go first. Merz reported that there had been “great support” for him during video conferences between the CDU presidium and federal executive board. The top committees of the CDU and CSU want to approve the party leaders’ decision next Monday.
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Merz speaks of process lasting months
According to Merz, the decision on the K question was a process that took months. “The decision was not made overnight, it matured,” he told ARD on Tuesday evening. He had discussed the matter intensively with Markus Söder on several occasions. He felt “a little relieved that we have now ended this personnel discussion.” He also sees himself as having “great responsibility, not only for the CDU/CSU, but also for our country.”
Merz believes that Söder’s own ambitions are legitimate. “Markus Söder was completely right to formulate his own ambitions and point out that he is highly popular,” Merz continued. But they both made a promise that 2021 should not be repeated, said Merz, referring to the power struggle between Söder and Laschet at the time.
When asked about possible coalition partners, Merz did not want to commit himself. “We will not go into the election campaign with a coalition statement.” But he would like to see two good coalition options.
Merz hopes for Scholz as opponent
When asked whether he, like Söder, categorically ruled out a coalition with the Greens, he said: “There is no party in the democratic spectrum of the broad political center that currently triggers such aversion as the Greens.” He accused the party of regulatory obsession, paternalism and hostility to technology. He is therefore currently ruling out a coalition with the Greens, but that could change again if the Greens change.
According to his statements, Merz is hoping for Olaf Scholz to be the SPD’s candidate for chancellor. “I couldn’t wish for a better opponent than this chancellor in terms of party politics,” said Merz, referring to his previous record and the SPD’s lost state elections since Scholz took office. (dpa, Tsp, cz)
