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Berlin (dpa) - Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer calls for a quick clarification of the question of the candidate for chancellor in the Union.

"Immediately after Easter, the personal and content-related issues must be resolved quickly," said the CSU politician of "Welt am Sonntag".

"Obviously, the fact that the most important questions are still open does not get us," he said, referring to the recent significant drop in the Union's polls.

"Supporters and members are gradually wanting to know where to go, what to fight for."

The losses in the state elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate as well as the poor poll numbers in the federal government show, according to him, that the Union must fight for first place.

"Until recently, that was beyond my imagination," he admitted.

CSU leader Markus Söder wants to include the outgoing Chancellor and former CDU leader Angela Merkel in the decision on the Union's candidacy for chancellor.

«It has to be a joint election campaign with the Chancellor.

A Union candidate can hardly be successful without the support of Angela Merkel, ”he told the“ Bild am Sonntag ”.

Unlike Seehofer, Söder is in no hurry to make the decision: “We have to think about what is best for Germany and the Union.

The strength lies in calm. "

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In the polls, the Union was most recently at around 26 to 28 percent - ahead of the Greens.

The chairmen of the CDU and CSU, Armin Laschet and Söder, want to decide between Easter and Pentecost who will stand as candidate for chancellor in the federal election in September.

There is no exact date for the decision.

Laschet and Söder have not yet officially registered their candidacy.

NRW Prime Minister Laschet, as head of the big Union sister CDU, is generally granted the first right of access.

Söder regularly emphasizes that his place is in Bavaria - but he is also said to have ambitions for the Chancellery.

Söder has long been far ahead of Laschet in popularity surveys.

Seehofer told “Welt am Sonntag” that the Union needs three things - and quickly: “Firstly, a strategy.

Where do we stand in terms of content and with whom could we form a coalition?

Second: You need authentic politicians, women and men. "

And thirdly, the Union needs a crisp future program.

"If everything fits, then a candidate for chancellor can fight, then a party can fight - because it knows for what and for whom."

You certainly don't have success with complaining, said Seehofer.

"We have huge potential, we have it in our backs to push back into the 30 percent tower, preferably close to the 40 percent mark."

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When asked whether Söder or Laschet had the best qualifications for the candidacy for chancellor, Seehofer said: "A former party chairman like me abstains from these questions."

Söder said the "Bild am Sonntag" when asked whether one could ignore surveys on Laschet's popularity and competence: "Surveys naturally play a role.

They are an important yardstick for the acceptance of people and programs in the population. "

Laschet is doing a great job as Prime Minister.

“It's not about the question of two people and their personal ambitions, but about the future of the Union and the entire country.

As party leaders, we have to shoulder this responsibility together. "

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210404-99-79334 / 2