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German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke in a press conference from Berlin on October 29, 2018. REUTERS / Hannibal Hanschke
Who will succeed Angela Merkel at the head of the Christian Democratic Party in early December? After the announcement of the Chancellor to abandon after 18 years the leadership of the CDU, three candidates are in the running. They are currently traveling to Germany to report to the base at regional conferences.
With our special correspondent in Halle, Pascal Thibaut
" The rule of law must not lose control and no longer know who enters its territory. "Dixit Friedrich Merz about, without saying it, the massive arrival of refugees in 2015 decided by Angela Merkel.
Immigration, security, identity, violence: in Halle, we talked about these subjects for a long time. It is a scared Germany who often spoke last night to question the three candidates: " What to do against the dramatic increase in criminal violence? How do you want to reduce the massive abuse of the right of asylum ? "
A theme that conservatives Friedrich Merz and outsider Jens Spahn put forward. One by putting the presence of the right of asylum in the Constitution, the other asking for a debate at the December Congress on the United Nations Migration Pact. The secretary general of Angela Merkel's party and runner-up, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, takes a more centrist line.
As for the CDU activists in Halle, they are rather inclined to support Friedrich Merz as this fireman and his wife: " After years with a woman in power of a woman, a man should have a chance, " he says, " if Annegret wins, it will continue as with Angela, "said his wife.
Four of the eight regional conferences are yet to come. The congress of the CDU will appoint the new president of the party on December 7 and 8.