Saturday 23 October 2021
Only men fight for the top of the CDU
Merkel wants more women in party leadership
“Only men, that no longer fits in with the times”: Chancellor Merkel encourages women to become more involved in the CDU – especially when it comes to leadership positions. Party colleague Merz is also calling for a staff renewal. However, he focuses on a different population group.
Chancellor Angela Merkel encourages women to get more involved in politics. “We must continue to work to ensure that women have more confidence in themselves overall. Even if there are some, it is not the case that they are struggling for party leadership, for example,” said the CDU politician of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “I can only encourage women to interfere. Only men, that no longer fits in with the times.” And if you want to be a people’s party, you have to get close to parity and want it.
The CDU suffered a historic defeat in the federal election at the end of September, in which Merkel did not run again. The party is now striving for a staff and content renewal.
For an all-round renewal of the Union, ex-Union faction leader Friedrich Merz is also committed. “I see the urgent need to fill the presidium with new members to a considerable extent,” said Merz of “Welt am Sonntag”. The CDU must reposition itself, “that includes not only the chairman and the general secretary, but also all other positions”. Merz attaches less importance to more feminine leadership. From his point of view, it is particularly important that the East is also represented among the deputy party leaders.
Candidates for the CDU chairmanship are all male
Whether Merz himself wants to run for the presidium or the chairman position, he keeps it open. But he rejects double leadership: “Double leadership is always very complicated in politics. That’s why I don’t think that’s a good idea, also with regard to the party leadership.” The CDU had no experience with this, “and the experiences of other parties were not really convincing either,” said Merz.
A lengthy presentation of the candidates for the CDU chairmanship is also not to the taste of Merz. “The possible candidates are all sufficiently well known, we no longer need to let a caravan of several weeks pass through Germany.” Therefore, the procedure could go quickly, including membership participation. According to Merz, digital voting is also conceivable.
At a special party conference, the CDU wants to re-elect the entire board. Party leader Armin Laschet had announced that he would put his own ambitions on hold. Other potential candidates for his successor include Merz, Health Minister Jens Spahn, Union parliamentary group leader Ralph Brinkhaus and foreign politician Norbert Röttgen. A woman is not there.