33rd CDU congress: 3 candidates vying to lead Angel Merkel's conservative party
Audio 02:48
The three presidential candidates of the Christian Democratic Union party CDU, Friedrich Merz, on the left, Norbert Roettgen, on the center, and Armin Laschet, on the right, take part in a discussion at the party's headquarters, in Berlin, Germany , December 14, 2020 © AP Photo / Markus Schreiber
By: Pascal Thibaut Follow
7 min
The German Christian Democratic Party CDU will hold its online congress on January 15 and 16.
A congress which inaugurates a much anticipated electoral year with the departure this autumn of Angela Merkel.
Pascal Thibaut interviewed three young Christian Democrats who grew up with the current Chancellor in power since 2005.
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“
I will not be running for president of the CDU at the next congress.
Moreover, this fourth term as Chancellor will be my last.
I will not be a candidate for my succession in 2021.
"
October 2018. Angela Merkel under pressure announces her gradual withdrawal from power.
Two months later, after 18 years, she left the leadership of the Christian Democratic Party.
His runner-up, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, narrowly wins against the conservative Friedrich Merz.
But AKK makes mistakes, lacks support within the CDU and announces in February 2020 that she will not be a candidate for the chancellery and will quit the party presidency.
Friedrich Merz is again a candidate, on the strength of his good score in December 2018. Although he left the political scene for business ten years ago, the sexagenarian, sworn enemy of Angela Merkel, remains a reference for the conservative and liberal wing of the CDU.
Lydia Tittes, 25, argues: “
Merkel's migration policy in 2015 and 16 is a negative aspect of her record.
Many of our constituents have left us.
This policy explains why the far-right AfD party has grown so strong.
It has recovered social democratic votes by positioning the party more to the left.
I want a correction so that the CDU has a more conservative profile.
This is not a break with the Merkel era, but a caesura and that is quite normal.
"
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To read also: Germany: the last wishes of the New Year of Angela Merkel
Another candidate, Armin Laschet, 59 years old.
This faithful Angela Merkel embodies continuity.
His poll score is mediocre.
But he highlights his experience at the head of the largest German region, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Fabio Jacob, 25, supports Armin Laschet: “
The last few years, under Ms. Merkel, have shown very clearly that our party should remain a popular party of world rally at the center.
For me, the candidate who most embodies this will, this ability also to bring together the different positions, at the center, political, it is very clearly Armin Laschet.
"
The third candidate, Norbert Röttgen, 55, presents himself as the man of renewal.
Former Minister of the Environment ousted by Angela Merkel in 2012, he has made a name for himself as the head of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee.
An outsider at the start of the campaign, he has since gained points.
Matthias Fuchs, 23, supports Norbert Röttgen: “
Norbert Röttgen has created a movement in the party which is strong.
It offers a new political style.
I think he shows that he is capable of inspiring a lot of people in the party, but also in the population, especially young people.
The idea is to give the party a new connection with society.
"
The outcome of the congress is open.
Like the designation of the conservative candidate for chancellery.
If the new CDU president does not convince, the chairman of the Bavarian sister party, the CSU, Markus Söder, very popular in the polls, could prevail on arrival.
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See also: 2021, an extraordinary German election year without Angela Merkel
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