With good, if not outstanding, results, the CDU party conference confirmed the leadership duo Merz and Linnemann as party leader and general secretary. This gives them support, also because the delegates know what is expected of them.
A signal of unity was what party leader Friedrich Merz announced before the CDU party conference – and the delegates sent their chairman a signal of unity. With around 90 percent, they confirmed Merz in office. His general secretary, Carsten Linnemann, got a little more, 91.4 percent. These are good results given the situation. But it is also true that there is still room for improvement. Angela Merkel, for example, achieved values above 90 percent seven times in her 18 years at the top of the party, with the peak in 2012 when she achieved almost 98 percent.
90 percent approval suggests that the delegates think Merz is the right man. In fact, he is credited with “holding the place together” after the 2021 federal election and leading the CDU to new strength. The party also has a clear stance on limiting immigration, against citizens’ money, for a strong Bundeswehr and more freedom for companies. The new basic program has revitalized the party and provides direction again after it was lost at the end of the Merkel years.
But Merz no longer sparks euphoria in the CDU. Before his re-election, hardly anyone in the CDU dared to make a prediction about the result – the scenario of well below 90 percent seemed too realistic. Instead, there was talk about a “corridor” that was just acceptable, 80 to 90 percent. In this respect, 90 percent is almost surprisingly good. There were too many reasons for a worse result.
Two years ago, Merz received 94.6 percent of the votes at a digital party conference. In a subsequent postal vote, which was required for formal reasons, it was even slightly higher, 95.3 percent. Shortly before, Merz had prevailed against Norbert Röttgen and Helge Braun in a members’ decision and received a strong 62.1 percent. This vote gave him momentum at the time.
Also criticism of Merz
But there are also reasons for the slightly declining approval. The conservatives in the party, especially in eastern Germany, had clear expectations of Merz. Then Merz implemented the women’s quota, which was not well received there. Not everyone likes Ukraine’s clear support – after all, according to the trend barometer from RTL and ntv, a majority of CDU supporters are against delivery of the Taurus cruise missile. Merz is also keeping a possible coalition with the Greens open, which is also causing grumbling among some in the East.
Finally, some people might have doubts as to whether Merz can lead the party to an election victory. His personal popularity ratings are weak. In addition, he is sometimes considered uncontrolled. In the summer of 2023 in particular, he caused controversy, for example when he made misleading statements about possible cooperation with the AfD and described the CDU as a “true alternative for Germany”. The fact that he reacted emotionally to a newspaper article by North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst and viewed it as an attack could also have caused surprise.
If Merz did so well in his re-election despite all of these reasons, it was also because the party conference knew what was expected of him. According to the motto: If the party leader lacks euphoria, we will take care of it ourselves. That explains some of the cheers in a rather boring lecture.
The delegates did not want to leave any doubt about Merz’s leadership role. Because a bad result would have damaged the boss and therefore also the party. A few weeks before the European elections on June 9th, probably no one wants to have a leadership debate. Why? Merz has many arguments on his side. Two years ago the party set out on a path with him and is now on the level. As a power party that wants to govern, the CDU supports its chairman. The party wanted to show enthusiasm. Maybe a little more than is actually there.