Following the resignation of Jens Spahn as the leader of the Union parliamentary group, Daniel Peters, the CDU regional leader and top candidate from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is strongly advocating for a rapid naming of a successor. Speaking to Politico’s Berlin Playbook podcast, Peters insisted that the party should not engage in prolonged personnel debates, urging that decisive action on staffing should be taken quickly. He argued that a lengthy discussion would only harm the Union, emphasizing, “The public expects us to continue working on solutions, not to talk about ourselves.”
Peters also indicated that a potential restructuring of the federal cabinet cannot be ruled out, stating that “the timing is definitely favorable for it.” However, he clarified that the ultimate decision rests with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). If Merz believes that personnel changes within the cabinet are necessary, he will make those decisions.
Furthermore, Peters did not rule out the possibility of appointing a leader from the CSU. The CDU politician stated he has no issues with the Bavarians as a North German politician. He added, “On the contrary, if I see Alexander Dobrindt as Minister of the Interior, I must say, he is doing an excellent job.” Peters noted that Dobrindt’s decisions have helped to “significantly curb” the influx of “illegal” migrants.
While Peters did not name a personal favorite for the parliamentary group presidency, he expressed confidence that both CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder would reach a good resolution within the coming days.
