Saturday, October 16, 2021
CDU vice calls for a restart
Spahn: “We are torn in many places”
At the Junge Union’s Germany Day, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn takes his party to court and complains about a “climate of mistrust”. The CDU needs a generation change to get out of the crisis. He himself wants to play a leading role in this.
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn sees his party in a deep crisis. “We are torn in many places,” said Spahn at the Junge Union’s Germany Day in Münster. “In many places, and not just for a few weeks, we have a climate of mistrust that has spread, and also a crisis of solidarity.”
The CDU had to build a “culture of trust” within the party, it had to lead more debates on content and better involve the members in the party’s work. The CDU is facing a rebuilding process that cannot be completed in a few months, said Spahn. “We have to work our way out of the crap again,” he said – and added: “Even the SPD has managed to work its way out of it all.”
Candidate for chancellor has “meant rupture”
For a long time, there has been a noticeable discomfort among the members towards the party leadership. “But the decision to run for chancellor, as we made it, meant the break for many,” said Spahn. That is why it is right and important that the entire federal board has cleared the way for new board elections.
There has been a turmoil within the CDU for some time between West and East, as well as between wings and views. “The way we treat each other and sometimes talk is not a question of the last six weeks or even the last six months,” said Spahn.
The newly elected CDU leadership must immediately set about finalizing the new basic program; this must be done within twelve months, demanded Spahn. “The CDU is not finished,” he said. “We’re getting up again. We’re getting started with a project in 2025.” He himself wanted to play a role: “I want to shape this new CDU,” said the 41-year-old. The party must now carry out the generation change: It is “the generation after Merkel that must now take responsibility”.