Before Merz meeting with the base: CDU politician: Don't keep going with the leadership forever

CDU Bundestag member Bastian Ernst recommends the party consider a future reorganization and contemplate a separation between Chancellorship and party leadership. Ernst stated this during a CDU district leadership conference with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, to be held in Berlin on Monday and Tuesday. Ernst, the chairman of the Oldenburg-Land district, noted that Merkel has remained chancellor while Angela Merkel handed over the party leadership – a model the CDU could emulate.

He questioned when this restructure should occur, saying, "The younger generation in the CDU has the ambition to shape it; they are a different type of politician than the previous generation. We cannot continue to operate with the current leadership indefinitely."

While Merz is excelling externally in tough times, Ernst highlighted internal issues requiring attention. He urged the CDU in the Bund to better understand local community needs and included the coalition partner, the SPD, in this call. Ernst criticized the intense search for a successor to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, stating, "I don't understand this fetish that a jurist or a juristina must be chosen.

I don't think that's right. This is not about the Federal Constitutional Court." Ernst has a clear candidate in mind: Ilse Aigner, who would be an excellent and widely accessible choice, capable of transcending party lines. Steinmeier cannot run again for the presidential election on January 30th, having served two terms.