Friedrich Merz shakes his head, once, twice: I can’t believe it.
Digital party congresses are always somewhat distant, but at least the main actors are large in the camera image. The man who is supposed to lead the CDU out of decline learns his election results in the next room.
When Merz arrives at the lectern in the foyer of the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus after a few steps, his eyes flash suspiciously.
He had wished for an eight in front for the start of the party presidency. He got exactly 94.62 percent.
“I am deeply moved and impressed by this election result,” says Merz. Ever since he was alive he was absolutely convinced that he was the right one. But if practically an entire party conference takes it at its word, it’s something else again. His voice sounds busy. It’s getting serious now.
Otherwise, this party conference is rather relaxed. Armin Laschet, for example, recalls the painful defeat for which he once again takes responsibility: “It’s an open wound and there will be a scar.” But at the same time he spreads Rhenish optimism: “Dress warmly, the CDU comes again!”
As a farewell, Merz gave him a tablet with pre-installed apps – from the “New York Times” and “Guardian” subscription for life to Radio Vatican.
Paul Ziemiak seems much more relaxed. As the outgoing party general, he once again advocates a quota for women.
It will not be passed again because you are not allowed to change the statutes digitally; In addition, Merz is not a fan. Ziemiak advertises: “I hope that this path will continue.”
After that, as the chairman of the meeting, he continues to thank deserving party friends. Behind the inflationary gratitude, of course, there is seriousness again. Many are leaving because things couldn’t go on as before.
Some go against their will. Annette Widmann-Mauz fails in the party presidency elections. With eight applicants for seven places, someone had to give way anyway. But the head of the women’s union does not even reach the theoretically necessary majority.
Widmann-Mauz stands for the Angela Merkel wing like no other. The fact that Merz is only now becoming party leader was also her work. In the elections for the extended board, however, it was by no means only applicants from the liberal wing who failed, such as Dennis Radke, Vice President of Employee Flights. By far the worst result falls on the arch-conservative Sylvia Panthel. Ex-Education Minister Anja Karliczek also fails.
Jens Spahn is spared from the crash. “I’ve learned a lot,” assures the ex-minister. However, it is only enough for the weakest result among the members of the Presidency.
In contrast, the vote for Merz stands out all the more clearly. His new general secretary Mario Czaja also gets a large vote of confidence – almost 93 percent for the Berliner.
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He promises to turn the party into a “think tank” and not to argue with his designated deputy, Christina Stumpp, or with Carsten Linnemann. The ex-head of the economic wing is to be responsible for a new basic program.
That’s actually the general secretary’s job, but Czaja assures them that they discussed the division of tasks. It’s probably even going well. Linnemann is not the bulldozer type.
They’re not in demand anyway. This can be seen most clearly in Markus Söder.
The CSU boss is connected from Nuremberg and purrs like a Bavarian plush lion. Laschet had recalled his unfortunate role as a heckler in the election campaign, Merz once again assured that something like 2021 should “and will not” be repeated between the CDU and CSU.
Söder not only admits that “mistakes were made” and mutual injuries were inflicted. He even shows remorse: “We’re sorry, and I’m sorry.”
From now on, the CSU is offering good cooperation “if desired”. Merz recently visited him in Bavaria. Of course he hits it.
The fact that the Bavarian was behind the scenes against the Sauerland for a long time – partly because he really thought he was the wrong guy, partly because he recognized him as a tougher opponent – both prefer to forget now.
Especially after Merz’ result. “I would have liked something like that,” flatters Söder. “That’s a big pound.”
That’s true, but it’s also the measure of the challenge Merz is now facing. To be on the safe side, he is dampening expectations: it could be “a long way” back to the government.
The memory is necessary, because there is a huge mountain of hope in these almost 95 percent, also desperate hopes among those who chose the 66-year-old more out of discipline than out of conviction.
Merz strives for the skeptics. He needs her now too. In his application speech, he promises cooperation and a broad presentation of social justice up to the question: “How do we actually imagine a social market economy in times of climate change?”
He defines conservative with the historian Andreas Rödder as a thinking that “protects against dogmatism and unconditionality”.
Widmann-Mauz gets the comforting hint that as head of the Women’s Union she is still a member of the board.
He avoids only one name.
Laschet thanked Angela Merkel, Ziemiak announced a later honor on a larger scale, Söder thanks for “16 years of great government work for our country”.
Merz dedicates a small, galling side note to the woman who declined his invitation to a reconciliation dinner in the protective circle of the other former chairmen. “We don’t make politics driven by opinion polls.” The former chancellor and the new CDU chairman – they just don’t become a political couple anymore in this life.
