CDU leader Friedrich Merz spoke to WELT-TV at the conclusion of the three-day CDU party conference, discussing the mobilization of new voter groups. Merz emphasized the CDU’s different approach to climate change compared to the Greens, stating that they will win over Green voters by showcasing their strategies. He expressed confidence in winning over voters who may have previously supported the AfD, emphasizing the need to regain lost voters ahead of the upcoming elections in the eastern states.
Merz expressed optimism ahead of the upcoming state elections in the eastern states, stating that the CDU is focused on regaining lost voters and becoming the number one party in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. He highlighted the importance of having the freedom to choose coalition partners based on their principles. Merz also mentioned that the new party program resonates with a wider audience beyond the CDU, emphasizing the need to limit immigration and focus on integrating migrants into the job market rather than social welfare systems.
Merz clarified that the decision on the Union’s chancellor candidate for the next federal election will not be solely based on the outcomes of the upcoming state elections. He stated that the party’s goal is to achieve majorities in the state parliaments and that the decision on the chancellor candidate, to be made in late summer, will involve both himself and CSU leader Markus Söder. Merz emphasized that taking responsibility for election results is a collective effort that the party leadership is prepared to address.
With regards to the elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg, Merz emphasized the CDU’s aim to become the leading party in these states and have the freedom to choose their coalition partners based on their core values. He highlighted the importance of appealing to voters who may have previously supported the AfD, emphasizing the party’s focus on regaining lost voters. The upcoming elections in the eastern states are crucial for the CDU as they aim to challenge the current dominance of the AfD in the region.
Merz acknowledged the CDU’s need to appeal to new voter groups and regain support from those who may have turned to other parties in the past. He emphasized the party’s strategy to address climate change in a different way than the Greens, believing that this approach will help attract Green voters. Merz’s vision for the CDU involves not only winning elections but also staying true to the party’s principles and values while forming coalitions based on these principles. The upcoming state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg will be a test for the CDU’s strategies and ability to regain lost ground.
