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WORLD:
Mr. Sack, why are the Christian Democrats in the north and east of the republic having such a hard time with Armin Laschet as a possible new party leader?
Michael Sack:
Difficult to say.
I don't think the mood is directed against Armin Laschet, but it is apparently the case that the other two candidates seem more interesting.
But I cannot give you a final answer to this question.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's CDU boss Michael Sack sees the election of the federal chairman as an “important reference” to the Union's candidate for chancellor
Source: picture alliance / dpa / dpa-Zentral
WELT:
Instead, the tendency in your regional association is clearly towards Friedrich Merz.
Why is that?
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Sack:
Both at the party base and among the party congress delegates, it is actually the case that many Friedrich Merz can easily imagine themselves as the new party chairman.
In my opinion, this is at least also due to the clarity with which Merz represents his positions.
This makes the image that people make of him a little clearer than that of the other two candidates.
WORLD:
Is there a certain affront to Angela Merkel in this preference for Merz, of all places, in the home country association of the Federal Chancellor?
Sack:
I don't see that at all.
The Federal Chancellor is still very popular and recognized by us.
The election of the party leader is about looking ahead, about shaping the future of the country.
As is known, the Chancellor is no longer available for this.
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WORLD:
Nevertheless, the election of Merz as the new chairman would be a clear break with the Merkel era, right?
Sack:
I don't see a break.
It will be different, regardless of which of the three candidates is chosen in the end.
Something new is starting now, and everyone who comes will set their own accents.
WORLD:
How should these accents look, especially from the point of view of an East German regional association?
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Sack: It
will have to be about our core competencies: the economy and internal security should play a major role.
This is what our members expect.
These are the issues that make us strong, and that's where we have to take on the challenges that lie ahead - especially in connection with the corona pandemic.
From my point of view, this weighting is one of the reasons why our party base and our delegates tend to prefer one candidate and not the other.
In addition, climate protection naturally remains an issue.
"Friedrich Merz will also be good for democracy"
Shortly before the CDU presidency election, Carsten Linnemann again supports Friedrich Merz.
In an interview with WELT, Linnemann explains why Merz is the best candidate in terms of the pandemic and what chances he has of being chancellor.
Source: WELT / Thomas Klug
WORLD:
Which candidate would you choose yourself?
Sack:
I am not a delegate and therefore not entitled to vote.
That is why, as the state chairman, I am reluctant to make recommendations.
The delegates should be able to decide freely.
WORLD:
Should the new party leader also become the Union's candidate for chancellor?
Sack:
I think so.
Both offices are closely linked.
In this respect, the election of the chairman is an important indicator.
Source: WORLD infographic
WORLD:
Or would CSU boss Markus Söder be the better candidate for chancellor?
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Sack:
First of all he would have to say that he wants to become that.
WELT:
You want to run as the top candidate of your party in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the fall - what chances do you think you have to replace Manuela Schwesig (SPD) as Prime Minister?
Sack:
It won't be easy, but we have very good chances.
The Prime Minister is omnipresent at the moment, but we have better ideas for the country.
The first task will be to increase my profile, especially in the western part of the country.
It's a challenge in the pandemic, but we can do it.
We want to become the strongest party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
WORLD:
With whom would you like to form a government if you were successful?
Sack:
It is clearly too early for coalition speculation.
It is clear that cooperation with the Left Party or the AfD is out of the question.
We will adhere to the decisions of the federal party, and they will not be discussed.
WORLD:
Has the grand coalition with the SPD in Schwerin proven itself?
Sack:
We work very well together in most areas.
In between there are issues where - in retrospect - more could happen.
In the education sector in particular, we have to become significantly better.
There are many construction sites there, as the pandemic shows once again very clearly.
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WORLD:
Most recently, the CDU, together with social democrats and leftists, set up a so-called environmental foundation with the help of which the Russian-German gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 is to be completed.
What do you think of this strange construction?
Sack:
It's here now, and we'll see how this foundation actually works.
In any case, I am not really sure what is going to happen.
WORLD:
Were you not involved in the decision to found this foundation?
Sack:
No, not directly.
That was a matter for the cabinet.
WORLD:
The major part of the foundation money comes from the Russian company Gazprom, which in return is also allowed to appoint the managing director.
Is that okay with you
Sack:
Let's put it this way: The question is how and with what aim this whole construct came about.
I wasn't involved and I'm curious to see what exactly happens there.
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WORLD:
Are you in favor of Nord Stream 2 being completed?
Sack:
We have all the permits for this project.
At the European as well as the federal level.
If you didn't want this project, you should have stopped it much sooner.
That didn't happen.
To stop it now would be wrong, I think.
WORLD:
So do you accept the cloak of environmental protection so that the line can be completed?
Sack:
I won't accept it, but it's there.
For me it is crucial how you deal with this fact now.
Whether the money that is now available there is actually used for environmental protection.
WORLD:
Last question: is the CDU planning a farewell event for Angela Merkel in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania?
Sack:
So far we haven't thought about it.
But it's a good idea.