On his third attempt at the leadership of the CDU, Friedrich Merz tries to show a picture of himself that does not exactly correspond to his previous public perception.

When he was presented as an applicant for the party chairmanship, which was organized by the CDU and broadcast on the Internet, the oldest of the three competitors presented himself as an advocate for the youth and the socially disadvantaged on Monday evening.

Johannes Leithäuser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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Merz had already placed the focus on social issues when announcing his candidacy a week ago, now he renewed this impression and at the same time assured that it would not be a change. Then he gave an example that combined both - the youth and the social - and explained the crisis of social security. The old-age provision of the young generation must be reformed in a “future-proof” manner, said Merz, adding the sentence that everything is interlinked as a reason why this question is also important from an economic and political point of view.

In the question and answer session - which will be continued in the same format on Wednesday and Thursday with the applicants Helge Braun and Norbert Röttgen - several dozen CDU members had the opportunity to have their say in writing or by video connection.

Many of them were evidently happy that membership is now to be the decisive factor in the election of a new CDU leader and that all applicants for the chairmanship announce organizational and programmatic reforms.

Merz stays in general

Merz was asked several times to spread his ideas about participation and reform;

he left it in general.

When asked about the three most important measures that he wanted to initiate as chairman, he first said that the CDU must be able to work quickly in 2022 in order to be able to lead four state election campaigns.

Second, he wants to re-motivate the employees in the party headquarters, and thirdly, a new basic program is necessary, which will "take two to three years".

As a rule, Merz does not want to leave the selection of the party leadership to the party base in the future: “Member surveys in this style must remain the exception.” But the members should be more involved in “factual issues” in the future.

He is "relying very heavily on the existing structures," said Merz, "but we will also need new ones."

When asked by a member whether the previous “top-down” leadership style, dominated by the party leadership, did not need to be reformed, Merz said: Yes, the opposite “bottom-up” principle must be applied, i.e. from the bottom up, Valid.

And after a breath he restricted: That does not mean "that the party should no longer be led, I already have this hope".

The application speeches that Merz had given almost two years ago on his second attempt shimmered through - at that time his announcement was that if you expect leadership from him, you will get it.

Not a party of the old men

Merz also made it clear which reform ideas could go hand in hand with such a claim to leadership. He spoke of the need for "systematic personnel planning" in the CDU, because: "We lack leaders at all levels." There are also too few women: "We have to do better." the CDU is a family-friendly employer, and he also wants to be a party chairman, "who sometimes campaigns vehemently for a young woman" and says old top dogs: "Be careful that we don't become a party of the old men."

The last question to Merz, asked by a female party member, was: “Why do you still do that to yourself at your age?” The candidate replied that if the party base is now involved in this decision, “then I can and will not withdraw from this wish ”.