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Chancellor Angela Merkel has justified why she stayed out of the debate about the Union's candidacy for chancellor.
At the same time, she emphasized the clear European orientation of CDU boss Armin Laschet, who had prevailed in the race against CSU boss Markus Söder, in a switch from the conservative European party family EVP.
"Predecessors should rightly stay out of designing their own successors," said Merkel at the EPP, which also includes the CDU and CSU.
You have seen too many predecessors who have tried this in certain positions.
"And nothing came of it."
The background to this is that Söder first demanded that a decision should be made with Merkel, but later emphasized that it was wise that she should stay out of it.
There had been internal criticism in the CDU that Merkel had not advocated the CDU boss.
Merkel emphasized Laschet's clear European orientation.
He was a member of the European Parliament and was “always very interested in the European idea”.
“It's one of his passions,” she said.
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Markus Söder has meanwhile backed the CDU chairman again.
In a CSU parliamentary group meeting in the state parliament on Wednesday, he again assured Laschet of full support in the federal election campaign, according to participants.
Söder spoke very conciliatory, it was said.
He was very at peace with himself, said the CSU chairman.
After his speech, Söder received exceptionally long applause from the MPs.
Söder said the election result in Bavaria will now look different than if he had become a candidate.
But the CDU result in North Rhine-Westphalia will be better - that will balance out overall.
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