Friday October 15, 2021
Future questions after bankruptcy
Merz: Union is “serious restructuring case”
After the deep fall, the retreat begins: At the Junge Union’s Germany Day, Friedrich Merz holds up a mirror to his party – after the defeat in the federal elections, he describes it as “at risk of bankruptcy”. But he does not want to lead a certain debate yet.
The CDU politician Friedrich Merz asked his party at the Young Union’s Germany Day not to focus on personnel issues. “We should only deal with the question of how do we get out of there?” Said the economic expert and former CDU / CSU parliamentary group leader. In his speech, he described the Union as a “serious restructuring case at risk of insolvency” after the disastrous result in the Bundestag election.
The Union lost around a third of its voters in 2021 compared to 2013. “We should answer the question of what only we can do that the others can’t,” said Merz. The member of the Bundestag from the Hochsauerland was welcomed enthusiastically when he moved into the Halle Münsterland. During his speech, the 317 delegates reacted much more cautiously to his comments. “Now is not the time for parties. This is the time for serious political disputes,” said Merz.
The chairman of the Junge Union, Tilman Kuban, started the organization’s Germany Day with a clear commitment to the Union’s electoral defeat. “We have to show our colors clearly. We have lost the election, and that’s why we’re going into the opposition,” said Kuban in his opening speech at the three-day meeting of the CDU and CSU’s youngsters. The Union has recently behaved like a heap of chickens. “That’s why the ball is now in the SPD’s playing field,” said the CDU politician. He congratulated the social democratic chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz on his election victory. In his speech, the JU chairman complained that the CDU was divided. “That is why we need a debate for a basic program of the Union and an answer to the question of what actually defines us in this party.”
Söder does not appear on Germany Day
There was sharp criticism of Armin Laschet and Markus Söder right at the beginning of the meeting. “Anyone who appears in the election campaign like Armin Laschet shouldn’t claim to become chancellor directly after the election, but should above all take responsibility for the result,” said the JU chairman of North Rhine-Westphalia, Johannes Winkel, at the beginning of Germany Day in Münster. “And anyone who follows in the election campaign like Markus Söder shouldn’t talk about questions of style after the election, but go to confession,” added Winkel. The country chief demanded that Laschet’s successor as CDU chief be determined by the grassroots.
This task should not be left to the CDU bodies at the moment, said Winkel. “When the committees are in such a crisis of confidence, then you have to recognize: We will only hold this party together if we elect the next chairman in a member survey.”
The Germany Day is the highest body of the Young Union of Germany. 318 delegates from all 18 regional and foreign associations came to Münster for the annual meeting. The appearance of CDU boss Armin Laschet on tomorrow Saturday is eagerly awaited. Initially, CSU boss Markus Söder had also announced an appearance – but he canceled his attendance at short notice because he wanted to take part in a CSU grassroots event in Bavaria. JU boss Kuban criticized the cancellation as “disappointing”.