Angela Merkel outlines plans for European Health Union
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Last month, Armin Laschet was announced the leader of the party after beating rival Friedrich Merz in a digital leadership election. But Mr Laschet has faced mounting scrutiny over past statements defending Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Assad regime in Syria.
But Ms Merkel’s party is struggling in election polls as support for opposition parties continues to soar.
In the current Insa opinion polls for BILD, the CDU/CSU were down by two points (34.5 percent), marking the lowest fall in three months.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) also saw a drop in the opinion poll after losing one point (10.5 percent).
While the likes of Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) (16 percent), Free Democratic Party (FDP) (nine percent) and Left (8.5 percent) each gained one percentage point.
The Greens improved by half a point (17.5) and all other parties together came to four percent.
Insa boss Hermann Binkert said the CDU party is visibly weakened due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “Confidence is sinking week by week and has decoupled from the approval of the coronavirus measures.
“That’s why a lot can still change before the general election.
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“The SPD also has a chance of becoming the second strongest party.
“Their additional exploitable potential is higher than that of the Greens.”
However Mr Binkert added it is “impossible” to govern against the Union but said coalition options are “not really far behind”.
He continued: “It is currently impossible to govern against the Union.
“But the coalition options, which currently still lack a parliamentary majority, are not really far behind.
“At the latest when the CDU/CSU falls below 30 percent, majorities against them will be possible.”
Following the opinion polls, the Greens’ Managing Director Michael Kellner vowed to defeat the CDU in the upcoming election.
He said: “We want to shape the country and govern for this, that’s right.
“But it is also true that the election is far from being decided.
“The Union has clay feet, its strength is borrowed from Angela Merkel.
“Our aim is to defeat the Union.
“Regardless of coalition speculation, the following applies: It is clear that ecology only works together with the social aspects.”
Mr Kellner went on to say how he would like to see a Green and SPD coalition but admitted the polls are not in favour of it.
He continued: “First of all, we are fighting for a strong green result.
“Our party system is changing.
“How much will be shown by the upcoming federal election campaign, it is about a green versus a black republic.
“It’s about how we can bring the country on the course of climate neutrality – against an Armin Laschet who still adheres to the old industrial policy and has no idea how the economy can look in the future, how it can become green and ecological.”
Back in 2018, the German Chancellor announced she would stand down as leader of the CDU at the party convention.
She said she would not seek a fifth term as Germany takes to the election polls this year.
Following Mr Laschet’s win, Ms Merkel was warned thousands would leave the party following Armin Laschet was announced as the new leader.
Christian von Stetten, the chairman of the Mittelstand parliamentary group (PKM) of the Union faction has warned many party members have toyed the idea of leaving.
He said: “If Merz is not involved at the top, we are not talking about hundreds of exits, but thousands.”
Mr von Stetted added the new party leader must ensure business-friendly policies end up in the election manifesto in the Bundestag election campaign.
He continued: “As members of parliament, it is difficult for us to advertise an election programme if we are not convinced of it.”
For the Insa opinion trend on behalf of BILD, a total of 2,107 citizens were surveyed from February 5 to 8, 2021.
Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg
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