Germany: Markus Söder and Armin Laschet, a duel to succeed Angela Merkel
Armin Laschet and Markus Söder after their press conference in Berlin, April 11, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
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4 min
The presidents of the two German conservative parties, Armin Laschet for the CDU, and Markus Söder for the Bavarian CSU said they were ready this Sunday to be nominated for their camp for the federal elections in September and succeed Angela Merkel.
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Their ambitions were an open secret;
they are now official.
“
We have found that we are both fit and ready
” to be candidates for the right-wing camp, said Markus Söder after a
closed meeting of the CDU / CSU parliamentary group
.
The boss of the Land of Bavaria elegantly highlighted the interests of the country before his personal ambitions and half-heartedly recalled that he was the favorite in the polls.
“
At the finish line, it is the one that will allow our parties to obtain the best result that must be designated.
I am ready to be a candidate.
If I get broad support within the CDU, so much the better.
If the CDU makes another choice, I will naturally accept it,
”said the leader of the CSU.
Armin Laschet
, who took over the leadership of the CDU in January, has, as expected, said he also wanted the nomination for the legislative elections of September 26.
"
Given the situation in the country, with a Chancellor who is leaving office, our goal is to achieve as much unity as possible between the CDU and the CSU, because the stakes are high,
" he said. in a joint press conference with his rival.
"
Europe is watching us, the world needs a strong Germany
," he added.
Cohesion between CDU and CSU is essential
They have repeated it over and over again: cohesion between the two Christian-democratic parties CDU and CSU is essential.
Whichever candidate is selected, the one who is not will bow to support the other.
But the announcement by the president of the Bavarian Christian Social Union Markus Söder constitutes an affront to the president of the CDU Armin Laschet, analyzes our correspondent in Berlin,
Pascal Thibaut
.
This party, which is present in 15 out of 16 regions, is much more important in determining the candidate for the chancellery, even if the decision is common between the two parties.
The decision must be made quickly.
After the closed-door meeting this Sunday with the conservative parliamentary group, the governing bodies of the two parties will meet on Monday.
For Armin Laschet, everything will depend on the support he receives within his movement.
The indirect one of the chancellor and her conservative opponent in the race for the presidency of the party in January counts.
But his low popularity and criticism of his positions in the fight against the pandemic also weigh heavily.
It is generally up to the CDU to present a candidate.
The CSU, a regional group, has only twice represented the entire conservative camp in the elections, with two failures.
But Markus Söder, 54, has the polls on his side.
According to the public channel ARD, 54% of voters believe that he is a good candidate.
For the sixty-year-old Armin Laschet, the share of favorable opinions is only 16%.
The
end of Angela Merkel's reign
, after 16 years in power, turns to the ordeal for the right to the point of endangering their victory in the legislative elections, which seemed assured a few months ago.
Erratic management of the pandemic, setback in two recent regional elections, the CDU and the Christian Social Union (CSU) are also splashed by a scandal of financial embezzlement around the purchase of medical masks.
Now the conservative camp is followed by the Greens, who dream of delighting the chancellery.
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To read also: Germany: the right under pressure to determine the successor of Angela Merkel
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Germany
Angela Merkel