The introduction of the quota in the CDU is unlikely to have any appeal for middle-class voters. Because nothing contradicts bourgeoisie more than a quota. It makes the success of the individual invisible.
Party leader Friedrich Merz at the party conference of the CDU in Hanover
The official CDU has remained true to itself. With the decision to gradually introduce a quota for women in the allocation of party offices, the delegates at the party conference in Hanover once again demonstrated their tendency to subordinate principles of power and success when in doubt.
In times when, without the Greens, there are usually no government prospects at federal or state level in sight, it does not hurt to adapt to the potential coalition partner in terms of internal party organization. In return, the damage to internal democracy is apparently willingly accepted. In fact, it is blatantly contrary to justice and the principle of equality if 50 percent of the offices are automatically supposed to belong to 26 percent of the members – that’s how high the proportion of women in the CDU is at the moment.
disappointment at the base
Party leader Friedrich Merz, who converted a few months ago from the camp of quota opponents to supporters, can look forward to a victory. Presumably he wanted to avoid defeat by swinging. The clever trick of introducing the quota for a limited period of five years may have had a decisive effect on those who were undecided. Still, the price is high. At the base, but also at the Mittelstandsunion or the youth organization JU, one is rightly disappointed. Some who had hoped that the party would confidently raise its profile under Merz see themselves taught better.
The introduction of the quota is also unlikely to have any appeal for middle-class voters. Because nothing contradicts bourgeoisie more than a quota. It makes the individual’s success as an individual invisible and reduces it to his or her group membership or chromosome set.
The Greens are better at identity politics
The pragmatists among the proponents argue that women in office attract others and are attractive to voters. That may or may not be true. But ideologues like the party left Karin Prien from Schleswig-Holstein – after all deputy party chairmen – go further and raise the quota to a question of principle. Power between men and women must be shared. This is identity-political thinking in its purest form. But when in doubt, the Greens are always better at this than the Christian Democrats.