After the slippers in the state elections in Hesse and Bavaria and the recent coalition disputes in Germany is eagerly waiting for the next steps of the Union parties and the SPD. The leaders of the CDU and SPD meet on Sunday in Berlin now for a two-day scheduled exam – and in both party headquarters, it could be quite turbulent.
At the CDU after the resignation announcement of Chancellor Angela Merkel the race for their successor opened. Now it is with the CDU above all to prepare the party congress in December, at which then the Merkel succession is to be fixed. Decisive candidates for the party presidency are Secretary General Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Minister of Health Jens Spahn and the former Union faction leader Friedrich Merz.
Immediately before the meeting of the Federal Executive, the seven party associations, including the Junge Union and the Frauen Union, already want to agree on a procedure for candidates. In the CDU, it was almost certain in advance that there will be a series of regional conferences where the party’s candidates will present their plans and objectives.
Is it after the Municipal Political Union of the CDU and CSU a „personality with great power of integration“ sought – but it is necessary to reconcile the different views on the future direction of the party under one hat. In the run-up to the CDU exam, the warnings of a drastic change of course under a new leadership increased in this context. Merz has justified his candidacy, among other things, he wanted to help the CDU to „departure and renewal“, Spahn calls for a „real restart“ for the CDU. Kramp-Karrenbauer wants to comment on her candidacy in detail next week.
There must be no break with the course of the middle of the last few years, „said the Prime Minister of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, the“ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung „(Saturday edition). If the CDU People’s Party wants to stay, the future person at the top must make an offer for all wings. Like the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet, Günther also criticized the statement made by Health Minister Spahn that the question of migration was „the white elephant in the room“.
If it comes to Saxony’s prime minister Michael Kretschmer, it is „urgently necessary for the CDU, herauszuschälen our brand core stronger.“ This applies not only to the issue of migration, but also in the economic and energy policy. According to Kretschmer, Merz correctly said that no revolution was necessary and that it was not about turning everything around 180 grand. „But we have to make clear what CDU is.“
The German labor minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) demanded from the CDU meanwhile a commitment to the coalition agreement. Since the massive loss of votes of the SPD in Bavaria and Hesse but also party leader Andrea Nahles is increasingly under attack. Immediately before the Party Exam, it went on the offensive against its critics. In the „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ (Saturday edition) she demanded more honesty and openness. She leads the party with all her „strength, passion and confidence,“ Nahles said, „if anyone thinks they can do it faster or better, they should get in touch
Nahles also wants to fend off the initiative at the closed-door meeting of the SPD leadership to favor the party convention and elections scheduled for the end of 2019 – and thus decide on the future of the coalition ahead of schedule. Among others Juso CEO Kevin Kühnert had pleaded for a preference. „Given the fragile state of the coalition, we have no time to lose to bring our program together with the 600 delegates up to date,“ said Kühnert in the „Rheinische Post“ (Saturday edition) his renewed foray.
The SPD leader wants to stick to the previous schedule. Nahles said she wanted the party to be clear on controversial issues. „We need the time until next year if we want to do it right. It’s nonsense to turn everything upside down. „Nevertheless, the SPD in Schleswig-Holstein demanded that a special party convention be convened beforehand. A narrow majority voted on Saturday at a state party conference in Kiel.
Three weeks after the loss of the absolute majority, the Christian Democratic Party (CSU) party continues to focus on the future state government of Bavaria. Already on Sunday CSU and Free Voters want to decide on the formation of a coalition. Boards and parliamentary groups of both parties meet in Munich to discuss the treaty negotiated in recent days. If everything goes according to plan, the new state parliament will be formed on Monday, even on Tuesday.
Three weeks after the loss of the absolute majority, the Christian Democratic Party (CSU) party continues to focus on the future state government of Bavaria. Already on Sunday CSU and Free Voters want to decide on the formation of a coalition. Boards and parliamentary groups of both parties meet in Munich to discuss the treaty negotiated in recent days. If everything goes according to plan, the new state parliament will be constituted on Monday. On Tuesday, head of government Markus Söder (CSU) could be confirmed in office by the new coalition.
As with the CDU and the SPD, however, the signs continue to be turbulent at the CSU as well. According to observers, immediately after the formation of the government, a decision is also expected as to whether Horst Seehofer, who is under pressure within the party, will continue to remain party leader. According to the „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ Söder had meanwhile ventured out of cover and bach long hesitation to recognize that he would be willing to inherit Seehofer as CSU chief.
