Candidate for CDU chairmanship: Röttgen needs Merz, Merz needs Röttgen

They played candidate mikado for a week.

But then Röttgen wanted to be the first again.

Early on Friday he announced his candidacy for the CDU chairmanship.

Another applicant unexpectedly appeared on the Hessian horizon: the outgoing Chancellery Minister Braun.

But the field is not yet complete.

Merz, who has already been defeated twice, will not miss the chance to take the chair, now that the "establishment" can no longer get in his way.

Röttgen presents itself as the most central point

Because it is clear that the party congress in January must be based on the vote of the “base”. That this vote is very clearly in favor of a candidate is not, however. It is quite possible that a runoff will be necessary, depending on the current situation and the state of the mood, most likely between Merz and Röttgen. They serve different hopes in the party. Röttgen presents itself as the most central one that can be imagined. He warns of a right shift. He doesn't have to name a name. Merz is known to be the hero of all those who again expect a clear edge from the CDU.

Politically, of course, Röttgen and Merz are not that far apart.

Merz also knows (better than some of his “Ultras”) that the wheel of history cannot be turned back and that the Union has not won the elections marginally in the past.

Röttgen, on the other hand, should be clear that the CDU still has to take care of the conservative clientele who turned away disappointed under Merkel.

The future of the CDU also depends on the loser

Because the CDU will only find its way back to its old popular party strength if it succeeds in

attracting and

retaining the middle

class

, which perceives itself to be modern,

the conservative bourgeoisie.

Röttgen would need Merz for this, Merz Röttgen.

The future of the CDU will not only depend on the path taken by the winner of the member survey, but also on whether the loser and his supporters go along with him.