Merkel says she won't interfere in search for successor
February 19, 2020
The announcement follows the resignation of Angela Merkel's previously tipped successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. The Christian Democrats are scrambling to find a credible contender for next year's election.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Nietfeld
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would not interfere in the search for the next Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate.
"I won't interfere in the issue of who will lead the CDU in the future or who will be the candidate for chancellor," Merkel told a news conference.
The announcement follows the resignation of Merkel's previously tipped successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Kramp-Karrenbauer announced that she would step down after a state premier was elected with the backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the CDU in the eastern state of Thuringia.
She also gave up her ambitions for running as party chair, as she said she believed one person should do both, which had been standard practice before she took over as chair.
The party is now scrambling to find a new candidate for the post. Potentials include Norbert Röttgen, the head of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee and a former environment minister under Merkel; Armin Laschet, the premier of Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia; Health Minister Jens Spahn; and the CDU's former parliamentary group leader, Friedrich Merz.
Germany's CDU: Here's who could replace Angela Merkel
After Kramp-Karrenbauer pulled out of the race to succeed Angela Merkel in the next federal election, speculation is rife over who'll take over as CDU chief — and potentially chancellor.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Nietfeld
Friedrich Merz: Longstanding Merkel critic
The ex-leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag withdrew from frontline politics in 2009. He made a comeback in 2018 when he joined the CDU leadership race, losing narrowly to AKK. Merz recently quit his post as chairman at BlackRock, the world's largest investment management firm, to "help the conservative party renew itself." He appeals to the CDU's conservative members.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. von Jutrczenka
Jens Spahn: Young contender backs Laschet
The 40-year-old surprised political onlookers on February 25, when he stood beside Laschet to support the state premier's candidacy announcement. Spahn, who is openly gay, is popular in the CDU's conservative wing. "It is about the future of the country and the future of our party," Spahn said on his decision to back Laschet.
Image: Reuters/K. Pfaffenbach
Armin Laschet: Affable state premier
Laschet, a journalist and former European Parliament member, has headed Germany's most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 2017. The liberal-conservative is a Merkel supporter — and backed her in the 2015 refugee crisis. Another "Pizza Connection" member, he is known for being able to work with both the FDP and Greens, which may be the most likely coalition setup in the next government.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Berg
Norbert Röttgen: Potential Greens ally
Röttgen served as environment minister under Merkel from 2009-2012. He now heads the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee. He designed Germany's energy transition plan and is seen as someone who could work with the Greens, the party polling second. He was also part of the "Pizza Connection," a group of CDU and Greens MPs that held meetings in the '90s and early 2000s.
