“It’s not a big ego show”: CDU social wing sees Merz as unprepared on K question

“It’s not a big ego show”
CDU social wing sees Merz as not set on K question

14.09.2024, 12:21

Who will be the Union's next candidate for chancellor? The designated chairman of the CDU's social wing, Radtke, stressed that the race is not over yet. The most promising person must be found. And he sees quite capable competitors for CDU leader Merz.

According to the designated chairman of the CDU's social wing, Dennis Radtke, the discussion about the next Union candidate for chancellor does not automatically point to party leader Friedrich Merz. One must find “the most promising person” behind whom most of the CDU and CSU could rally. “This is not a big ego show, but the prerequisite for replacing Mr Scholz,” Radtke told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group.

The 45-year-old MEP from Bochum, who is to be elected federal chairman of the Christian Democratic Workers' Association (CDA) in Weimar this Saturday, sees CSU leader Markus Söder and North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst in the running alongside Merz. For him, it is clear that a CDU chairman “has a fantastic starting position and always has the aspiration to become Chancellor,” says Radtke. It is just as logical that a CSU chairman could potentially do that too. “It is just as clear that the Prime Minister from the most populous federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with great nationwide approval ratings, also has what it takes.”

Radtke said he now sees Merz and Söder as responsible for “agreeing on a procedure so that in the end both parties stand behind our candidate for chancellor with heart and passion.” If the internal union theater of 2021 is repeated, the poor result of the most recent federal election will also be repeated – “no matter how scary the traffic light performance is,” he warned. Merz and Söder want to answer the K question after the state election in Brandenburg on September 22nd.

Criticism of incompatibility decision

In dealing with the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance, the designated social wing leader brought up the possibility of a complete revision of the CDU's incompatibility resolution. With the complete rejection of cooperation with the AfD, there is “nothing to reconsider”.

However, the question arises as to what political relevance the Left Party actually has outside of Thuringia. “The incompatibility decision currently means that we are not allowed to talk to the left-wing Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, even though he is essentially a former West German trade union official. “I think this is a human being and should be discussed openly at the next CDU federal party conference,” demands Radtke.