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Stuttgart (dpa) - Union chancellor candidate Armin Laschet wants to bring the economic expert Friedrich Merz into his election campaign team.
"For me, Friedrich Merz belongs firmly to the team of the Union for the federal election," said the CDU chairman on Tuesday evening at a video link with the CDU in Baden-Württemberg, as the German press agency learned from participants.
With his economic and financial competence, Merz could help decisively to master the huge challenges for Germany after the corona pandemic.
Laschet went on to say: “The Union has already successfully led Germany through many serious crises, with the right concepts and the best minds.
For me, Friedrich Merz is one of them.
We only win as a team. "
A little less than 100 functionaries and mandate holders of the Southwest CDU from the state, federal government and European Parliament were present at the video switch.
The CDU state chief and federal vice-president Thomas Strobl said, according to the information: "Armin Laschet and Friedrich Merz form a union."
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The CDU in Baden-Württemberg is the second largest regional association and in the power struggle for the candidacy for chancellor, the majority supported CSU boss Markus Söder. The former Union parliamentary group leader Merz is also very popular in the Southwest CDU. Even in the race for the CDU federal chairmanship, the state CDU had largely opposed Laschet and supported his competitor Merz. Laschet's move to involve Merz is also likely due to the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on June 6th. The Sauerland is also very much appreciated by CDU supporters in eastern Germany.
According to several participants, Laschet said he was aware that there were many aspirants from North Rhine-Westphalia for higher positions in the federal government. There are Merz, the foreign expert Norbert Röttgen, Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus and Health Minister Jens Spahn. All are: "Man, Catholic, North Rhine-Westphalia." But the CDU needs more diversity. "Nevertheless, the Friedrich Merz is a different category." The 65-year-old economic expert could inspire people.
The CDU chairman warned at the meeting against running after the Greens because of the falling polls.
"We have to be careful that we don't pretend we're something like the Greens," said Laschet, according to the information.
You have to be “pure CDU”.
"Then we have a chance to win this general election," said Laschet.
He warned that the Greens around Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock would use every opportunity presented without forming a federal government without the Union.
"Then it will be a different republic."
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He is surprised that the CSU is now being portrayed as modern and he himself as someone from the 80s.
It was not long ago that the CSU was anything but modern on issues such as migration and CO2 prices.
"Now you are suddenly at the forefront of the ecological movement."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210427-99-377642 / 2