Read the transcript of the press conference after the union meeting with CDU leader Armin Laschet and CSU chairman Markus Söder:
Armin Laschet:
Yes, first of all many thanks to Ralph Brinkhaus and Alexander Dobrindt for the invitation.
It is a good tradition that the party leaders meet again and again with the parliamentary group, including the executive group committee, to discuss current issues.
And with everything that may be of interest to many in terms of personnel at the moment, the question “How do we cope with the Corona crisis?” Is the most important topic for people, and that was the focus of the first consultations today.
Last week I suggested that we speed things up, that we come together as prime ministers, that we need a bridge lockdown.
It wasn't possible.
Now we're going to get this federal law very quickly.
And Markus Söder and I also agree: This has to be passed as quickly as possible, because the virus infection rate does not leave time for long consultations.
We need a quick answer and it is good that the two parties and the groups stand together here.
The second big topic was of course: What idea of the future do the two party leaders have?
We know that after the pandemic we are faced with huge tasks: fighting unemployment, fighting the high national debt, holding Europe together in a delicate phase.
It is clear to everyone: If it is already difficult for Germany, how much more difficult will it be in Europe for countries that are not so economically strong?
Developing an idea of a decade of modernization here has shown how much agreement there is between the CDU and the CSU.
As much as perhaps not in years on this question of the content and what modernization is now required in our country.
And then the third question was the question of the candidate for chancellor.
Markus Söder and I had a long conversation before today.
We have declared our readiness to run for the candidacy for chancellor.
And we agreed on this together, in a good process between the two parties - including, of course, with the parliamentary group.
That was the intention to be here today and to start this common idea that we need solutions very quickly and very promptly.
And that's what we'll talk about further.
We'll keep talking about this.
In this situation in which the country is, our aim is to achieve as much unity as possible between the CDU and the CSU with a Chancellor who is leaving office.
Because there is a lot at stake.
Europe looks at how Germany develops.
The world expects a stable Germany, and that is why we as Union parties have a very special responsibility here.
Markus Söder:
Dear Sir or Madam, I would also like to say a warm hello from you!
We realize that we are in a very serious situation.
As a country: We are all stressed by Corona.
Some because they are deeply concerned about the health effects that Corona still has in store for us.
Others also groan under all the measures that are taking place.
And you can feel that it is not easy for anyone.
The Union itself is in an exciting situation.
The polls show that there is clearly room for improvement, and it is a serious challenge for the federal elections, which are due in just five months.
There are only five months left, so it is now important to set the right course, in terms of content, but also in terms of personnel.
Our aim must be to be number one in Germany.
That is the clear claim.
Our main opponent is clearly defined: it is the Greens in the competition for number one and the chancellorship.
And that's why we have to think carefully about how we should position ourselves in the next few weeks.
For a successful election campaign it is crucial that three things come together: You have to represent the spirit of the times, not run after it.
It is expressed by the need to know what people expect, what they expect from politics and what issues this is related to.
Second: A program must be offered that is modern, that is neither a mere “business as usual” nor a “going back to the past”, but a program that shows precisely that there are new challenges to which we have new answers need to give, in which a new union has to be defined to some extent.
And then the people have to merge credibly with the program.
People aren't everything, but they play an important role.
We saw it in the state elections.
In the end, the question “Who will run?” Always plays a major role.
But also: “How closely do parties represent the respective top candidacy?” Armin and I did indeed have a long and, may I say, friendly and very open exchange, where we agreed on many points regarding the future of the Union , also in terms of content.
We don't have any differences.
On the contrary: there is an incredible amount of common ground on this path into the future.
And of course we also talked about the central question, and there is great expectation that a joint solution will be found soon, sooner rather than later, on the question of the candidate for chancellor.
The conversation was not conclusive in terms of the result.
We have determined that both are suitable and both are ready.
What is important is that we also show respect to one another.
I can say that from the start: No matter how the decision will be in the end, we will both work very, very well together personally.
Because it doesn't depend on our ambitions.
It depends on the well-being not only of the Union, but above all of Germany.
And in the end, regardless of who, everything has to be subordinate to that.
This joint mission unites and obliges us.
After an unbelievable number of people from both parties approached me again and again, including many from your ranks, I reconsidered and weighed it up for myself and then declared my readiness today.
In the responsible body, namely with the parliamentary group, not through an interview, but in the responsible body said that I am ready to run for this responsibility, if the CDU as the bigger sister, that is very clear, broadly supports this .
If this party and parliamentary group and the members want, then for me it is also a clear matter that one must not pinch, but one must face up to responsibility.
And must also be ready to take this step, which is not easy for me, but is important for the country.
But it is also clear that if the older sister says that this is not her suggestion and she has another suggestion, then of course it is also a very clear signal for us.
Then we would accept that too.
It is important for both of us, for Armin and me, for both of us, that we do not make the decision depending on the curve, but rather supported by a common spirit of responsibility.
Armin last said in one of the interviews, and I found that important and also impressive: “In the end, it should be the candidate for chancellor who has the best chance of being elected for our common idea.” Everyone can interpret the parameters differently, and that's completely all right, it depends on election day.
But in any case, I can say for myself: I am ready for this candidacy.
And if the CDU supports that in a large majority, then I think that's okay.
If the CDU makes a different decision, then of course I would accept that.
At the end of this process we don't want division, we want unity.
And we want to document the claim to lead Germany into a good future after September.
We still have a lot of work to do to present a modern and good program.
Many Thanks!
Question:
I have a question that is addressed to both Mr Laschet and Mr Söder.
The CDU Presidium will meet tomorrow.
Is that the body that should clearly stand behind you tomorrow and a candidate for chancellor?
And, Mr Söder: Do you expect the top CDU leaders to now stand behind you?
Laschet:
Well, the Presidium has a regular meeting tomorrow, and I would not like to anticipate what the Presidium is discussing.
Today we visited the parliamentary group, the head of the parliamentary group, together.
Everything else will be discussed together.
Söder:
I would like to add that tomorrow we will also convene a presidium towards early evening.
Which is also a matter of course - in such a situation.
Of course, we don't want to anticipate that either.
Question:
Another question for both of you, Mr Laschet and Mr Söder.
I checked again: How broad should this decision be made?
How much should the party be involved?
And Mr Söder: With you, it sounded a bit as if you were also prepared to accept a different decision.
What predominates: the hope that there will still be support from the CDU?
Or is that the willingness to forego?
Laschet:
Well, we didn't set a quorum on how big a vote should be, but I think that the party committees must now have the chance tomorrow to discuss this calmly.
Start was here today.
Tomorrow will be the next conversation and, important for both of us: always in coordination with one another.
Söder:
Both are willing to run for office.
This implies that in the end both of them have to be ready to accept other decisions.
But that was my impression of Armin's determination and my determination to run for candidacy: there is no doubt about that.
We both think we have good reasons.
We both appreciate and see through each other.
We really have a good relationship.
Anyway, I can say that for myself.
We will shoulder this together because in the end it comes down to being successful.
That's what I mean by bending and breaking.
Bending and breaking does not only apply to the younger sister, but also to the bigger one.
Question:
A question for Mr. Laschet and Mr. Söder together.
Can you perhaps say how quickly it should actually go: You both said that the decision must now be made quickly.
This week you expect to go to the parliamentary group with a decision on Tuesday.
And Mr Söder, if you say that the CSU committees will meet tomorrow afternoon.
So if the CDU committees stand behind Mr. Laschet in the morning and at noon, you would stand behind the entire decision in the evening.
Is that right?
Laschet:
I don't know if speculating now what which committee does, what comes after that, what the time and the date will help.
The process is now clear.
The readiness of two is on the table.
The task is also on the table.
And now we will see these deliberations tomorrow, first in the CDU and then in the CSU.
Söder:
That is a permissible conclusion, but in my opinion it is not an expedient conclusion.
I believe that in the end, every decision that is made has to be borne.
It must be borne by the breadth of the membership.
Both parties.
And what I think is even more expedient: It must also clearly meet the expectations of the population.
It has to be done in harmony.
Our task is then to turn this difficult mixture of expectations and hopes into a concept that is supported by everyone.
But what is very important to me.
We are not Helmut Kohl and Franz Josef Strauss.
Not even visually, not even in terms of content.
We have no fundamental disputes.
We didn't always agree.
There are always different accents in the Corona area as well.
But what I like about Armin Laschet, and I hope he does too about me: that we always come together.
What I also think is important that with all this seriousness we have a bit of a sense of humor.
And we will still need that, in the next few months, to respond to some difficult hour and challenges, beyond this important question.
In the end, it has to happen together with confidence.
And under no circumstances will we allow ourselves to have a constant back and forth, as in the 80s, or one or the other to be offended.
In any case, there will be no such thing on my part.
But it's a serious decision.
It is an important step in setting the course for our country.
Incidentally, I also believe for all of Europe.
And we want to win this election in the fall.
That is the central requirement.
And now we think about how the formation is best.
Question:
Mr. Laschet, Mr. Söder, does the old law actually still apply, according to which - which politicians never think of - if the election is lost, the top candidate will become the opposition leader in Berlin?
Laschet:
You are right, you never think of that.
And to that extent you don't plan to do that either.
Rather, we are in a process where the CDU has had a long decision-making process due to the coronavirus as to who is the party chairman, and my first goal was to bring everyone together in the Union so that at least the CDU can go into this election as one.
That is not something that can be taken for granted.
When three personalities like Norbert Röttgen, Friedrich Merz and I struggle for a year to find the right path, the right course, the right priorities.
The party was grateful to have decided that in the end.
And many people supported the decision.
And that has been brought together over the past few weeks.
East and West, middle class, Christian-Social, Liberals, Conservatives - it was a great effort.
And now we are in this next step, which Markus Söder described and which I would rate similarly.
And then it's about making the Union so strong, across the entire breadth of Germany from east to west and north to south, in rural regions and urban areas, that we hold society together here.
With the big questions that still lie ahead of us.
At the moment everything is talking about Corona.
Climate protection is still there.
The international challenges are getting bigger, as we are experiencing these days.
Tensions in Europe will increase after the pandemic, when some countries get out more easily and others don't.
And to take this into account, that is the task.
Do not think now about who will possibly get which post if all of this does not work out.
It is now a matter of mastering this task together and maintaining the breadth of the two people's parties.
Söder:
That's right.
We both know our responsibility and we will approach this with determination, unity, but also with passion.
There's no doubt about that either.