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The new leader of the party was determined yesterday in the Congress of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the great partner in power in Germany. In the second round of the congress, where 3 candidates competed, the winner of the votes of 521 out of 991 delegates was the Prime Minister of State of North Rhine-Westphalia (KRV) Armin Laschet. In the first round, Friedrich Merz, supported by the party’s right wing, got 5 more votes than Laschet. However, the new president was determined as a result of the new selection made among the first two candidates according to the statute.
In his speech it was discussed that Merz, who had to say that he would not make a coalition with the far-right AfD party, could bring back the votes that went to this party, but this time the center votes could go to the Green Party. Merz, who lost to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, supported by Chancellor Angela Merkel in elections two years ago, is known for her opposition to the administration’s immigration policy. It also opposes Turkey’s membership in the EU, arguing that it should not be happy with the expanded membership of the economic zone.
Laschet, unlike Merz, is a very moderate politician who has no prejudice against immigrants. The prime minister of the state of KRV, where there are many Turks in Germany, Laschet previously served as the Ministry of Integration, which required working with immigrants in the same state. Although he has strong Catholic views on some issues such as anti-abortion, his nickname “Armin of the Turks”, given to him by the far right, shows that he is a moderate name. Laschet, a former journalist and consultant, argues that Turkey is not just in favor of the ruling party and continues the process of joining the EU.
THE FIRST MINISTRY IS NOT FINAL
Laschet’s election as president does not mean that Merkel will be elected prime minister in the general elections, where Merkel will not be a candidate again in September. In addition to the CDU in Germany, there is also a Christian Union Party (CSU). This match is active only in the state of Bavaria and does not run in other states. The CDU, on the other hand, stands for election in all states except Bavaria. These two sister parties form the union wing of the federal government and are now in power together with the Social Democrat SPD. This week, the CDU-CSU bloc is expected to get 37 percent, the left liberal Greens 20 percent, the SPD 15 percent, the far-right AFD 10 percent and the Socialist Left Party the 8 percent. In this case, a coalition made up of the CDU-CSU and the Greens or the SPD is enough to get a majority in parliament. However, the CDU leader is not automatically a candidate for prime minister. The candidate for prime minister in the party is also determined together with the CSU. Popular within the CDU, Health Minister Jens Spahn and CSU President and Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Söder are also prominent names for the chancellor.
The CDU congress was held via the Internet and the delegates cast their votes in this way. Now, the election results must be confirmed by letters. However, despite the slight difference in votes, the other candidates congratulated Laschet and expressed their willingness to work together.
NO CHANGE FOR NARROW INCOME
Although he has made a name for himself in the party’s congress, which is far from the far right, this situation will not bring much change for the poor in Germany. In the country where millions of people had to switch to short jobs due to the crown crisis and hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, 3 candidates had no constructive suggestions on these issues. In Germany, which broke records in the economy, high rents and property prices due to the unfair distribution of income, retirees survive on welfare alone, 289 thousand houses.
There are major problems such as the power outage because bills could not be paid and 1.5 million people get food from soup kitchens. Even if Merkel took no action on such matters, she was able to enchant herself for her overall success in the economy, her understanding demeanor, her humble life (she still lives as a tenant in an apartment near the assembly), and her honest personality. It was not difficult to be elected both president of the CDU and prime minister, although he did not leave the position he himself chose. Let’s see if Laschet can fill his void.
