As for the K question in the coalition, it all comes down to Friedrich Merz or Markus Söder. Hendrik Wüst, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, has withdrawn from the primary and “in the current situation” cannot run for Chancellor. At the same time, he has pledged his support to Merz.
In the coalition’s chancellor race, it’s now down to a showdown between Merz and Söder. It’s clear that CDU chairman Merz has the first access. Despite evidence that he wants to do it, he’s not reaching out.
CSU Chancellor Söder was less reserved, especially at the Gilamus folk festival on the day after the elections in Saxony and Thuringia. The then Bavarian head of government openly declared his ambitions: “For me, the highest position is to become chancellor. But I will not hesitate to take responsibility for my country.”
The timing of a decision on the K issue is unclear.
The exact timing and procedure for the decision are still unclear. Merz has always talked about a “late summer” when he and Söder would commit together. Now the meteorological beginning of autumn was already on September 1, and the first hour on the calendar was 2:43 p.m. on September 22, a few hours before the polling stations in Brandenburg closed. Some unions, such as CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann, are now talking about “early autumn” as the timing for the decision.
A rapid decline is likely after the Brandenburg elections, but the CDU’s state chairman also wants to get involved.
Wüst stands behind Merz.
With Wüst, Merz now has a prominent advocate in the state presidency. He said that after the NRW CDU board meeting in Düsseldorf, Wüst had asked Merz to support him. “Only a strong and united federal union can replace the traffic lights. As president of the largest regional association of the CDU, it is my duty to promote and secure this unity,” Wüst said. “That is why I informed the state executive committee of the CDU North Rhine-Westphalia today that under the current circumstances I will not be able to stand as a candidate for federal chancellor in the 2025 federal elections. His job is in North Rhine-Westphalia.”
A scathing critique of the federal government
Before making a decisive judgment, Wüst explained the latest political developments, the turning point caused by the Solingen attack, and the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia. The North Rhine-Westphalia state government has shown that it is possible to find a political solution. It seems to be different nationwide. Therefore, the goal should be to replace “the worst federal government in 75 years of history.”
Wüst has repeatedly been considered as a potential candidate for the federal chancellorship. He himself has made this perception clear. “Whoever governs the great state of North Rhine-Westphalia must be prepared to take responsibility for our entire nation. This also applies to me. In other words, you must never say no,” Wüst said before explaining his decision not to do so.
Bust calls for unity
He is delighted and encouraged by the support he receives. “I am not impressed when many colleagues and members of the various state associations of our party encourage me to play a greater role in shaping federal politics,” Wüst said. So he assessed the situation for himself and ultimately decided that unity was particularly important for the CDU to succeed.
“The lesson from 2021 is that the fundamental prerequisite for a successful joint election is the unity of the CDU and the entire coalition,” Wüst said.
In the 2021 federal election campaign, Söder had a tough fight with then CDU leader Armin Laschet for the chancellorship, but he lost, but he did not give up. In the end, the federation lost the federal election. Olaf Scholz (SPD) ultimately became chancellor.
Always in a supporting role
Wüst wants to prevent Scholz from becoming chancellor again. Given the “decline of the traffic light party,” the coalition must reach out to more people again. “I completely agree with Friedrich Merz when he says the federal potential is 35 percent,” Wüst said. This election is more important than many past elections. “We have every chance of restoring the CDU and the entire coalition to its former strength,” Wüst said.
In discussions on the K question, Wüst always played a supporting role behind the main actors Merz and Söder. This is also reflected in the survey results. When asked who would have the best chance for the coalition in the next federal election, the ZDF Political Survey from early September said 29 percent voted for Söder, 23 percent for Merz and only 20 percent for Wüst. The order among coalition supporters was the same: Söder 32 percent, Merz 31 percent, Wüst 25 percent.
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