As Federal Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Schäuble, especially at the time of the Greek crisis, had heated disagreements with Chancellor Angela Merkel. But also the refugee policy of his party chairman met with the today's Bundestag president on criticism. During this time Schäuble is said to have repeatedly flirted with assuming even the chancellorship.

This is also confirmed by Friedrich Merz in a documentary by WDR and the ARD by filmmaker Stephan Lamby, which focuses on Merz's candidacy for the CDU party leadership ("The power struggle - who follows Merkel", Monday, ARD, 8.15 pm ). Accordingly, there were several discussions between Schäuble and him about a possible change Schäubles in the Chancellery.

"I have to be able to rely on you"

"Of course, we also talked about the question from time to time," says Merz. "There was a question in the room as to whether or not he might take over the chancellorship again, and then he told me, 'If that ever happened, I'll have to be able to rely on you too.' But that's just it did not come."

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That the two CDU politicians are close, has long been known. Already a few weeks ago, the SPIEGEL had reported how Merz and Schaeuble allied to deprive Merkel. Here you can read the whole story on SPIEGEL +. "We have often talked about what the situation in Berlin is, even two or three years ago, when there was already such a series of state elections that we lost," says Merz in the documentary.

"We both share the very great concern about the emergence of the AfD," he continues. "We both think that was not necessary to that extent, that it could have been prevented." Similarly, the 63-year-olds expressed at the regional conferences, in which presented the CDU candidates for the party presidency.

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Merz and Merkel are old rivals. She was one reason why he retired from politics. It was not until Merkel announced that she would give up the party presidency that he announced his intention to return. Schäuble is said to have urged him to do so.

Since then Merz fights with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Jens Spahn for the party presidency. At the CDU party congress on December 7, it should finally be decided who will make the race. How long Merkel will continue to hold as chancellor afterwards is unclear.

For his own consideration, to compete for the party leadership of the CDU, says Merz in the documentary: "I have asked him (meaning Schäuble), of course, also for advice on what to do in this situation now that we are now. And he did not advise me. " Wolfgang Schäuble did not want to comment on the film.