The CDU has avoided a new open power struggle and will combine the functions of party leader and opposition leader in the Bundestag in the hands of Friedrich Merz.

The previous parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus, whose term of office would have lasted until April, has decided not to fight for his position in a campaign against Merz.

This waiver is probably based more on Brinkhaus' assumption that he would succumb to Merz than on the insight that it would be better for the CDU to combine both offices in one person.

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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In his farewell letter to the members of the parliamentary group (which has a total of 197 members), Brinkhaus insisted that a duo consisting of him and Merz could have led the parliamentary group and party in the future.

He wrote that it was "no secret that Friedrich Merz and I have different opinions regarding the chairmanship of the parliamentary group, which we have not been able to resolve".

And Brinkhaus insisted that both Merz and he had "good reasons for our positions".

Combat candidate against Kauder

Brinkhaus himself had won the position of parliamentary group leader almost three and a half years ago in a campaign against incumbent Volker Kauder.

At that time, he used an opportunity in which, after 13 years of government discipline, the majority of the parliamentary group was willing to rebel against their long-time leader Volker Kauder and thus indirectly against the then Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Brinkhaus wanted his victory to be understood as an emancipatory act by the parliamentary group, but subsequently refrained from continuing the self-confidence of the parliamentarians in public disputes with the Chancellery or individual ministries.

After losing the Bundestag elections last September and losing power in government, Brinkhaus insisted that he wanted to continue leading the parliamentary group.

The failed candidate for chancellor, Armin Laschet, was so weakened by the election defeat that he did not attempt to challenge the leader of the parliamentary group for this position.

It had been different 19 years earlier.

At that time, party leader Angela Merkel (who, of course, had previously had to leave the candidate for chancellor to CSU leader Stoiber) immediately seized the chair of the parliamentary group after a narrow loss in the Bundestag elections - and offended the previous parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz so lastingly that he left politics a few years later left and only made his comeback towards the end of the Merkel era.

Merz: Brinkhaus remains an active and important member

Now Merz seems to be following the pattern of thinking that he didn't want to grant Merkel at the time - that an opposition party can only appear united and profiled if the leadership is in one hand.

And while Merkel tried at least to keep Merz in the leadership of the parliamentary group and offered him a prominent position as a deputy, with employees, Brinkhaus' future remains undetermined for the time being.

Merz merely said that Brinkhaus would remain "an active and important member of our parliamentary group" and added that "I would be happy to make use of his skills and support".

Brinkhaus, in turn, let the MPs know in his letter that Merz was definitely willing to take over the chairmanship of the parliamentary group.

After being named party leader by more than 94 percent of the delegates a week ago - the result is currently being formally confirmed by a postal vote - the new party leader evidently felt he had enough support to claim his position from Brinkhaus to assert.

Brinkhaus wrote to his group colleagues that Merz had let him know that he would definitely apply for the group chairmanship.

Shortly before, Brinkhaus had sent out the unmistakable signal that he would be happy to remain the group leader even after the re-election date in April.

Since this statement did not dissuade Merz from his plans - and since there was no public encouragement to Brinkhaus from fellow faction members either - the only alternative for the current faction leader was either to face a fight candidacy with little chance (even those in the faction who preferred to keep Brinkhaus). , would be aware of the damage to the CDU chairman, Merz, should he lose in the vote) or to give up as soon as possible.

Brinkhaus argued with the upcoming state elections in the spring - it was therefore better to "create clarity" on February 15th.