After the election debacle under still party leader Armin Laschet (60) it is clear: heads will roll at the CDU. Today the party decided that the entire board will be re-elected. This was confirmed by General Secretary Paul Ziemiak (36) in the early afternoon.
In the CDU it is actually about the big picture. The way to a fundamental renewal has not yet been determined. Just as little who could be the new strong leadership figure at the top.
The party is currently looking for the “Kai out of the box” – someone who no one has on their radar, who can be integrated internally and sold to the outside world. So it says from the CDU presidium opposite BILD.
They sat together from 9 a.m. to noon. The search was for a solution, a fresh start, a new candidate for the party chairmanship – and above all for the way to get there.
Loud shout after a survey of the members!
But that won’t come until later – maybe. According to BILD information, an agreement was first reached on a district chairperson’s conference on October 30th.
AFTER THAT, on November 2nd, the federal executive will decide how the base will be involved. The timing of the special party conference will also be decided.
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak (36) said at noon: It had been decided unanimously that the entire federal board would be re-elected.
By the way: According to BILD information, an agreement has also been reached on a 14-day interview ban.
Party members urge members to be questioned
The questioning of the members is an urgent request from the party. CDU SME boss Christian von Stetten: “We need membership participation, at the end of which, ideally, a mood will emerge for a person who can be elected party chairman without a candidate for a fight.”
BUT: The CDU would be in a dilemma. If it actually came to a member’s decision, Friedrich Merz (65) would have the best chances. However: Merz is also a CDU veteran, does not necessarily stand for renewal and awakening of the party. But THAT is exactly the second, perhaps even more important, demand from the party.
What was going on today?
“I expect that we will present a clear schedule today and a procedural proposal on how we will reposition ourselves – in terms of personnel, content and organization,” said the CDU regional head of Lower Saxony, Bernd Althusmann, to BILD.
However, one should not rush the question of the next CDU chief. “We have to take a little time and think wisely: who can lead the Union into the next few years.”
The question that must be asked today is: “Should this be a candidate for transition? Or should it be a candidate who will then lead the CDU into the next election in four years’ time to become Chancellor for Germany? “
On the subject of member surveys, the CDU faces another problem: For this procedure, the CDU’s statutes would have to be changed.
CDU needs young people and new ideas
Saarland’s Prime Minister Tobias Hans said that a generation change in the entire CDU was necessary. The approach of the Saarland CDU (waiver of Peter Altmaier and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer) is exemplary.
Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier pointed out that because of the poor result of the Union, far too few younger politicians had been elected. “We have to do everything we can to win back this young generation,” he said, referring to many younger parliamentarians from the SPD and the Greens. “Only if the CDU gives the next generation a chance will we have a future as a people’s party,” wrote a number of younger politicians in the “WELT am SONNTAG”, including JU boss Tilman Kuban (34) and federal board members Wiebke Winter (25 ) and Anna Kreye (27).
“The personal is one thing. The content is at least as important. Because I think we have to reinvent the Union a little bit and develop new ideas, ”says Bernd Althusmann. “What is actually our idea as the CDU in Germany? I think it is needed as a center party. ”
He goes on to explain: “We fought a lot, so we should first find our way back to unity. The federal chairman, Armin Laschet, will propose a special party congress. ”Then there will also be a reorganization of the Union. “The entire federal board is responsible”
Althusmann believes that the relationship between the CDU and CSU must be revised. “It is not enough if Mr Söder and Mr Laschet get along again. Basically, how we deal with each other must be reconsidered. “
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