Post by Louisistan on Oct 29, 2018 13:25:36 GMT -5
Today, to the surprise of many, Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany since 2005 and Chairwoman of Germany's conservative party CDU since 2000 announced that she will not be running for the Party Chair in December. Moreover, she will not run for parliament again (nor Chancellor or any other office) once the current term concludes in 2021.
Before today, Merkel has always said, that a Chancellor should always be the Chair of their party. She attested a complete loss of authority to her predecessor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) When he had to resign as Chairman of his party whilst serving as Chancellor.
The decision came after the recent state legislature elections in Bavaria (two weeks ago) and Hesse (today) saw the parties currently In coalition on the federal level (CDU, CSU and SPD) lose heavily to the right-wing AfD and the Greens.
The CDU will elect a new Party Chair in December. Whomever wins it is a likely frontrunner for the nomination as Chancellor in 2021 (or earlier if the coalition decides to put them up for a vote or if a special election for parliament is called). Early candidates are Jens Spahn (Minister for Healthcare), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (Secretary General of the CDU and former Minister President of the Saarland) and Friedrich Merz, a former Caucus Chairman and rival of Angela Merkel, who left active politics in 2009.
It is unclear at this point whether Merkel will be able to serve the whole term. She has said she's willing to do so, but once party leadership changes it's not solely her decision anymore.
What's next (or who's next) for the CDU?
Will Merkel serve the full term?
Will the CDU be able to come out of their current crisis under a new party leadership if Merkel remains chancellor?
Will the coalition hold?
So many questions to discuss. So let's.
Before today, Merkel has always said, that a Chancellor should always be the Chair of their party. She attested a complete loss of authority to her predecessor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) When he had to resign as Chairman of his party whilst serving as Chancellor.
The decision came after the recent state legislature elections in Bavaria (two weeks ago) and Hesse (today) saw the parties currently In coalition on the federal level (CDU, CSU and SPD) lose heavily to the right-wing AfD and the Greens.
The CDU will elect a new Party Chair in December. Whomever wins it is a likely frontrunner for the nomination as Chancellor in 2021 (or earlier if the coalition decides to put them up for a vote or if a special election for parliament is called). Early candidates are Jens Spahn (Minister for Healthcare), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (Secretary General of the CDU and former Minister President of the Saarland) and Friedrich Merz, a former Caucus Chairman and rival of Angela Merkel, who left active politics in 2009.
It is unclear at this point whether Merkel will be able to serve the whole term. She has said she's willing to do so, but once party leadership changes it's not solely her decision anymore.
What's next (or who's next) for the CDU?
Will Merkel serve the full term?
Will the CDU be able to come out of their current crisis under a new party leadership if Merkel remains chancellor?
Will the coalition hold?
So many questions to discuss. So let's.