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The free election of the new head of the CDU is further delayed. Under President Kramp-Karrenbauer’s proposal, the federal executive board follows that the party’s congress should be postponed until next year due to the crown. Friedrich Merz, in particular, does not like this decision.
The CDU federal party conference in Stuttgart scheduled for December 4 has been postponed. In the morning, the federal executive followed a recommendation from the presidium, which had voted unanimously in favor of postponing the party’s congress. At a press conference, CDU Secretary General Paul Ziemiak said the CDU knew “what responsibility we have at this time.” At the same time, party members are eager to hold a party congress. However, in view of the current situation, a face-to-face event is currently not appropriate.
As part of the CDU’s annual board meeting on January 16, it will now be decided whether, and when, in the spring of 2021, a presence party congress with 1001 delegates is possible to elect a new president or whether a vote by mail is required. A party presence conference is the preferred option, the Bureau said in the morning. If the pandemic situation is such that a presence party conference is not possible in the foreseeable future, a decision must be made on the possibility of voting by mail or other alternatives, it was further emphasized in the circle of participants. In the case of a vote by mail, all members of the board would have to be elected.
CDU politician Friedrich Merz has criticized the decision to postpone the party’s congress. “The postponement of the party conference is a decision against the base of the CDU,” Merz told Reuters on Monday. “I regret that the Presidium has not followed my compromise proposal to hold a Crown-compliant digital party congress and at least allow the election of the new president,” he added.
Laschet’s strongest opponent called on Sunday, during deliberations between the party’s closest leadership and the three most promising contenders, for clarification on the leadership issue this year. In addition to NRW Prime Minister Laschet and former Union Parliamentary Leader Merz, foreign expert Norbert Röttgen is also applying for the presidency. Laschet belongs to the nearest address, Merz and Röttgen are not represented there.
Basically, whoever becomes the new leader of the CDU also has the first access to the Union’s candidacy for chancellor. According to this information in the CDU presidium, Chancellor Angela Merkel did not initially comment on the date of the party conference. However, it is known to her that she did not consider a party conference in attendance with 1001 delegates in Stuttgart in early December to be responsible in view of the dramatically increased number of corona infections.
2021 will be a super election year with six state elections and federal elections in the fall. State elections in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate are scheduled for March 14.
