Wolfgang Schäuble surprised Altmaier apparently when he spoke out for Friedrich Merz as the new CDU chief. Kramp-Karrenbauer is the better choice for the Minister of Economic Affairs.
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier has shown irritated by the support of Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble for Friedrich Merz as the new CDU chief . As a reaction, Altmaier made public shortly before the congress on the election of the new CDU top behind Merz ‚ competitor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer . Schäuble’s assault surprised and astonished him, Altmaier told the Rheinische Post.
His preference for General Secretary Kramp-Karrenbauer he had so far out of respect for the delegates not publicly expressed. „Since Wolfgang Schäuble has now broken the dam, I can say: I am convinced that with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer we have the best chance to win the CDU and to win an election.“
„Friedrich Merz would certainly chase away many votes from the FDP, “ said Altmaier. Union and FDP should not cannibalize each other. „Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer would be the most dangerous candidate for the Greens and SPD . She wins elections in the middle. “
The CDU federal party congress in Hamburg decides Friday on the succession of Angela Merkel as party leader – expected is a duel between Kramp-Karrenbauer and ex-Union faction leader Merz. The third prominent candidate, Health Minister Jens Spahn, is considered an outsider.
The party heavyweight Schäuble had told the „Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung“: „It would be best for the country if Friedrich Merz received a majority at the party congress.“
Altmaier does not want the election of the new CDU leadership to be understood as a preliminary decision on the next chancellor candidate: „I think it would be an absolute mistake for the party to say immediately that the new party leader should automatically become chancellor candidate,“ he said. Altmaier emphasized at the same time, in the party and far beyond there is the „clear wish“ that Angela Merkel will not finish her term as Chancellor before 2021.
