CDU General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann asserted that even if the Christian Democratic Union performs poorly in the autumn state elections, there is no threat to the leadership of Friedrich Merz. Responding to questions about whether Merz could maintain his position as party leader and potential chancellor in such a scenario, Hoppermann told the Funke newspaper group that such a debate is out of the question, adding that the elections in question are fundamentally different from national contests. She emphasized that Merz maintains responsibility for Germany as a whole, so the outcome of state polls does not alter his position.
Hoppermann delineated the specific stakes in each region: in Saxony-Anhalt, the goal is to prevent a far-right party from reaching government; in Berlin, the objective is to stop a left-led state government; and in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the aim is to preserve the position of the “Party of the Middle.”
Furthermore, Hoppermann defended the CDU’s policy of incompatibility with both the AfD and Die Linke, stating that this measure is “desperately necessary.” She argued that the AfD is opposed to the Union both in principle and culturally. The same applies to Die Linke. Hoppermann pointed out that if the newly elected leader of Die Linke claims they are pursuing “fascist politics,” it clearly illustrates the party’s internal radicalization. She concluded that the party faces a problem in clearly naming and addressing antisemitism and Islamism.
