CDU To Announce New Party Leader Around 1400CET

Germany's main opposition centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to announce its new party leader at around 1400CET (0800ET, 1300GMT). The party has been in something of a tailspin ever since its poor result in the September federal election, which saw the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, ousted from power after 16 years of CDU rule under Chancellor Angela Merkel.

• The contest was called by Armin Laschet, who ran as the chancellor candidate for the CDU and CSU in September. The hubris of the CDU leadership in selecting the nationally unpopular Laschet over popular CSU head Markus Soeder as the joint candidate has been seen as a key factor in the centre-right entering opposition.
• The three candidates are:
  • Former Leader of CDU/CSU Group in the Bundestag and businessman Friederich Merz. Merz also ran for the party leadership in January 2021, losing in the run-off to Armin Laschet.
  • Chair of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Norbert Rottgen. Rottgen ran in the January CDU contest, coming in third place.
  • Former Federal Minister for Special Affairs of Germany and Head of the Chancellery Helge Braun.
• Polls have shown Merz as the most popular candidate, with just under 50% support according to most surveys.
• Markus Dirsus at the University of Kiel writes: "What is the vote about? As usual, it's about personalities and power, but it's also about the future direction of the party. There's been a huge divide within the CDU since Merkel started pulling it towards the centre to win elections. Some Christian Democrats believe the party needs to stay in the centre because that's where elections are won. Others believe the party needs to move to the right so voters have an easier time differentiating between the CDU and its main rivals."