Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) hopes that the reorganization of her party as a result of the defeat in the Bundestag election will see more women in leading positions.
“We must continue to work to ensure that women are more confident about themselves overall.
Because even if there are some, it is not the case that they are wrestling for party leadership, for example, ”said the former CDU chairman of the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
"If you want to be a people's party, you have to get close to parity and want it," added the outgoing Chancellor.
"Only men, that no longer fits in with the times."
Merkel: CDU and CSU will process the election results
After the electoral defeat, a CDU special party congress is to elect the entire board again.
Party leader Armin Laschet had announced that he would put his own ambitions on hold.
Health minister Jens Spahn, economic expert Friedrich Merz, Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus and foreign politician Norbert Röttgen are all candidates for his successor.
Merkel was confident that the Union would draw the right conclusions from the electoral defeat.
“The result wasn't good, that's clear,” she said.
The CDU and CSU are in the process of working through it with a view to lessons for the future.
"I think they will do very well."
In the federal election at the end of September, the Union had the worst result in its history with 24.1 percent.
Since then, polls show it has fallen even further in favor of voters.
Merkel rejected the accusation that it was a mistake to give up the party chairmanship in 2018, but to keep the Chancellery, as well as the impression of a growing distance from the CDU.
"Together with everyone in my party and my group," she tried to do her best.
"And now a new time begins."