Interview on the situation of the CDU: Linnemann von Merz "more than irritated"

In the internal CDU election campaign, Union parliamentary group vice Carsten Linnemann supported Friedrich Merz. Nevertheless, he was "more than irritated" when Merz claimed the office of economics minister after his defeat, he tells ntv.de. He trusts the new CDU chairman Armin Laschet to bring the wings together. It won't be easy, however: "This time it will take longer than after the Hamburg Party Congress in 2018 until we can all get back on track."

ntv.de: Would Friedrich Merz be a good Federal Minister of Economics?

221632736.jpg "data-src =" https://apps-cloud.n-tv.de/img/22298093-1610910779000/16-9/750/221632736.jpg "class =" lazyload "/> </picture><figcaption><p class=Carsten Linnemann is deputy chairman of the Union parliamentary group, head of the medium-sized and economic union of the CDU / CSU and a member of the federal board of the CDU.

(Photo: picture alliance / dpa)

Carsten Linnemann: Yes, that would be him.

Why was it that Merz lost the election as party chairman? Because of his speech, which was once again not so good, or because the party leadership raised the mood against him?

You have to analyze it soberly. I believe there are two hearts beating in the heart of our party. One side is longing for a more market-based and conservative profile. She has a longing to sharpen her profile. The other side is more on safety, drives on sight. She worries that raising the profile also harbors the risk of polarization, which could deter some groups of voters.

You supported Friedrich Merz.

Yes, out of conviction. Therefore the election result was disappointing at first, especially since it was once again very close. That will have happened to every Merz supporter. But I emphasized even before the election that the CDU had three very strong candidates. Armin Laschet convinced with a clever and also emotional speech, he won the race.

What did you think when you heard that Merz had "offered" the new party leader to join Angela Merkel's cabinet?

I was more than irritated. We are in the middle of the worst crisis this Federal Republic has ever experienced. Entire areas of the economy are on the brink, waiting for help. We need to focus on that now. What I would have been happy about, however, would have been Friedrich Merz's commitment to the presidium of our party.

Would you still have respect for a head of government or a government leader who lets the outside into her who is sitting at her cabinet table for her party?

She can't be talked into. Again: I get tons of emails every day from entrepreneurs who are up to their necks, from employees who are on short-time work and are extremely insecure. Retailers have their backs against the wall. In industries such as gastronomy, hotel, exhibition stand construction, tourism, and showmen there is no prospect of prospects. And medium-sized industrial companies are also worried about a complete lockdown because then the supply chains will no longer work. They all want us to solve the problems now and not to get caught up in personnel debates.

Merz justified his waiver of the candidacy with the fact that the CDU could not only be led by men from North Rhine-Westphalia and that if he had applied, even fewer women would have been elected to the committee. According to reports, however, this place was not given to a wife, but to Norbert Röttgen.

If Friedrich Merz had wanted to join the Presidium, a solution would have been found. The choice has now been made, I will support Armin Laschet. He's doing a very good job in NRW. But I think this time it will take longer than after the Hamburg Party Congress in 2018 until we can all get back on track.

What has to happen for this to work? What could Laschet do?

He has to give the signal fairly quickly that he wants to transfer the principle he applies in North Rhine-Westphalia to Germany, namely to reflect the breadth of the People's Party. We don't have an easy situation at the moment. Not to mention the immediate problems that Corona is causing, which are bad enough, the pandemic acts like a blanket of snow. It hides problems and challenges to which we have not yet given the urgently needed attention. This is a mistake, because these problems were there before Corona and they are getting bigger with Corona. Let me give you a few examples: the empty coffers in social insurance. A debt like there's no tomorrow. An integration policy that cannot work because schools are closed and integration courses are canceled.

My concern is that we will continue to indulge in the mistaken belief that we can win the federal election with our Corona policy alone, so that we can then take our time to see how things can go on. That would be fatal. We have to set the course today so that future generations also have good prospects.

Roland Koch has just explained to the "Cicero" that he considers participation by the Greens "most likely, even most desirable". How do you see it

It's kind of hip today to talk about black and green. For me, the natural partner of the Union is still the FDP. However, it will be crucial that we spit in our hands again after Corona and step on the gas pedal so that we can regain economic dynamism and a spirit of optimism.

Do you think that Laschet sees it differently?

No, he probably sees it the same way. I know Mr. Laschet from North Rhine-Westphalia. He rules there together with the FDP and does that very well. At the same time, he has repeatedly shown that he is someone who knows how to bring the different wings of the CDU together. Nevertheless, he will now have to come up with something to give the CDU of Germany a clear identification tune. Everyone who votes for the CDU should and must know what our party stands for. Then we have the chance again to win the next federal election.

Hubertus Volmer spoke to Carsten Linnemann

. (tagsToTranslate) Politics (t) Carsten Linnemann (t) Friedrich Merz (t) Armin Laschet (t) Interviews (t) CDU