Friedrich Merz, chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is likely to become a candidate for chancellor from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc at the Bundestag elections scheduled for next autumn, the Bild tabloid reported today, September 15.
"Discussions about the candidate for the post of chancellor from the CDU/CSU bloc are likely to be put to an end: Friedrich Merz intends to become a candidate for the post of head of the German government from the Conservatives," the publication stated.
According to the tabloid, the leader of the united CDU/CSU faction intends to officially announce his decision after summing up the results of the land elections in Brandenburg on September 22, but no later than October 3. It is expected that the presidium of the CDU and the Bavarian "sister" party of the CSU will hold a joint meeting on September 23, during which "they will finally decide on the candidate for chancellor."
EADaily reminds that on June 25, 2024, it was Merz who made statements about the need to find a peaceful settlement of the armed conflict on Ukraine, a cease-fire and the beginning of peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he had previously constantly demanded the expansion of military assistance to Ukraine and, in particular, criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for refusing to provide her with long-range German Taurus cruise missiles.
According to media reports, Merz is already planning visits to European countries neighboring Germany as part of his election campaign, in particular to France and Poland. According to sources close to the leadership of the Christian Democrats, Merz may, in particular, meet with the President of the Fifth Republic Emmanuel Macron during an official visit to Paris.
The Prime Minister of Bavaria and the leader of the "sister" CSU, Markus Zeder, also "has ambitions to become chancellor," but this time he does not want an "open duel" with Merz. According to sources, Zeder remembers the detrimental consequences for the image and rating of the CDU/CSU caused by the public struggle with ex-CDU candidate Armin Laschet on the eve of the Bundestag elections in 2021. The CDU/CSU's first defeat in almost 16 years after the end of the Angela Merkel era forced the conservatives to go to the opposition bench.
"Zeder knows that in the new federal government under the leadership of the CDU/CSU he will be the "shadow vice-chancellor" along with Chancellor Merz. Even if he stays in Munich. Because without the CSU leader, Berlin will get almost nothing. Therefore, Mertz will have to play a double game with Zeder both now and in the future," the publication notes.
Earlier, EADaily reported that Merz, unlike Zeder, has problems with personal ratings and is inferior to his Bavarian colleague in terms of electoral trust. According to the results of a survey by the INZA institute published on the eve of September 14, almost a year before the Bundestag elections, the CDU/CSU bloc is confidently leading, with the support of 33% of voters. In second place is the pro-Russian opposition party Alternative for Germany with 19% of potential votes. The ruling Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is satisfied with the support of only 14% of voters, the Green Party — 10%.