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The economic wing of the CDU was once Jens Spahn's power base.
The Mittelstands- und Wirtschaftsunion (MIT) played a key role in promoting the 40-year-old as Federal Minister of Health.
With their support, Spahn moved into the CDU presidium six years ago in a fight candidacy.
Since then, the MIT, led by a close confidante of Spahn, the young parliamentary deputy Carsten Linnemann, has been a supporter of Spahn's presidential candidacy and political initiatives.
Not any longer longer.
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Because on Tuesday the attempt to secure Spahn's support for his candidacy for the deputy party chairmanship in a special meeting of the MIT presidium failed, as WELT learned.
The opinion of the Presidium members meeting via video conference because of Corona was so critical of Spahn that Linnemann did not take a formal vote.
It was the second attempt to secure the support of the economic wing for Spahn.
The presidium already met last Friday to decide which candidates to support at the online party congress on January 16.
For weeks it has been clear that MIT is behind Friedrich Merz for the battle vote for the chairman.
Spahn has been nominated as deputy chairman by his regional association in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Support for this candidacy was considered a matter of form.
But then several MIT board members complained that Spahn no longer stood for business-friendly politics.
He had joined Armin Laschet's team, who stood for a different course, without consulting.
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Linnemann tried to save the situation by suggesting that Spahn should speak to the economic politicians himself.
The special session was then called on Tuesday.
But Spahn was again not in the video line.
According to the participants, Linnemann put off his presidium: They would have to wait a bit, as Spahn was currently in important negotiations with the Russian health minister.
The critical opinion had solidified over the weekend.
They did not want to confuse the delegates, it was said: The economic wing is promoting Merz.
Whoever is for Laschet cannot be supported by the economic wing.
In addition, as Minister of Health, Spahn has recently mainly done social policy.
Since only one member of the executive committee argued for Spahn, Linnemann pulled the emergency brake and refrained from voting on supporting Spahn.
That amounts to an affront, because Spahn belongs to the MIT presidium itself.
Contrary to the announcement, the health minister was no longer switched to the video conference.
Participants interpret this to mean that Linnemann gave him a hint that this was pointless and would only make the defeat worse.
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The withdrawal of Spahn's support by the economic wing could have far-reaching consequences for the party congress.
If Merz becomes party chairman, he could propose the defeated Laschet as deputy party chairman.
Laschet has already held this post.
For reasons of proportional representation, there would then be no place for Spahn in the narrow party leadership, as he, like Merz and Laschet, comes from North Rhine-Westphalia.
Member survey on CDU party leadership - Junge Union advocates Merz
The CDU youngsters from the Junge Union present the results of a two-week member survey on the CDU chairmanship.
The result is a recommendation to the CDU party congress.
See the full press conference here.
Source: WORLD
Laschet has already announced that if he wins the election, he will propose Spahn as a deputy.
In this case, the involvement of Merz becomes difficult and with it the rallying of the party behind the winner.
Linnemann did not want to confirm or deny WELT the events: "I do not give an opinion on events from internal meetings." Spahn could not be reached for inquiries.