Merkel's crown princes are fighting the pandemic as a weapon

In Laschet's state, a negative covid test will be the key to shopping again as usual.

While Söder's state remains one of the most closed.

Two different models that show Germany's increasingly chaotic corona handling.

This gets extra excitement as one of them will probably be the sister parties CDU / CSU's top candidate in this autumn's election.

The new Merkel.

That the pandemic has become the political weapon that can decide the Crown Princes' battle has become particularly clear in recent days.

Yesterday, the South pointed a sharp arrow at its competitor Laschet, which is just about to open its doors along the shopping streets of Düsseldorf and Cologne.

- Not everyone seems to have understood the serious situation.

These are not suitable for petty, malicious disputes over who should decide.

I think the Chancellor is right, said Markus Söder.

Critics have become more embracing

The funny thing about this is the sudden turnaround.

Söder was for a long time a fierce critic of Merkel, not least during the migration crisis, with stubborn demands for a maximum ceiling for immigration.

Laschet, on the other hand, has long been Merkel's main defender.

It was often he who had to explain her policy in the sofa programs on television.

Now the critic has become the embracer, and vice versa.

Will nominate top candidate

Between Easter and Pentecost, the Christian Democrats CDU / CSU will nominate their top candidate for the election.

For Crown Princes Söder and Laschet, it now seems tactically important to show the difference in this political issue of fate - the corona management.

Here, Laschet has the opportunity to win the hearts of the pandemic-tired Germans.

While the South can show the whole country that a politician from Bavaria can very well keep pace with the Chancellor, very well can take responsibility for Germany.