2 hours agoGerman CDU close to selecting the Merz faction as Merkel's replacement
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)When Angela Merkel withdraws as Chancellor this September, she will leave behind a conservative party that has been virtually unaffordable as the political force in Germany for 16 years and is still leading the polls by a 15 per cent margin. And yet, the Christian-Democrat Union (CDU) can thank Merkel [...]
And yet, the Christian-Democrat Union (CDU) can thank Merkel this Saturday by selecting its new leader, exactly its oldest rival, a man representing a return to the pre-Merkel era not only in ideological values but also in the style of leadership.
The millionaire lawyer Friedrich Merz, who was dismissed by Merkel as chief of the CDU parliamentary group in 2002, is the frontrunner among party supporters to take over the leadership of the centre-right party on September 28, 2021, when it will be decided who succeeds Merkel as German Chancellor, writes The Guardian, translate Periskopi.
The Social Democrat Party (SPD) has nominated Finance Minister Olaf Scholzin as candidate; the greeners are expected to nominated one of the leaders, Robert Habecuk or Annalena Baerbockun.
Merzi is seen as a divisive figure in Germany, as it relates to the earlier neoliberal period of Christian-democratics.
At this Friday and Saturday's digital congress, the new CDU leadership will be selected from 1,000 to 1 delegates.
And Merzi is the candidate to be defeated.
For many German conservatives, Merzi presents the promise of an identifiable political stance, after two decades under Merkel's pragmatic leadership. /Periscope
