2018 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election

election

The 2018 Christian Democratic Union leadership election was held in Hamburg on 7 December 2018. This is after Angela Merkel's decision in October 2018 not to stand for party leader at the 2018 party conference following the party's bad performance[1] in the 2018 Hessian state election and low numbers in national polls.[2]

On 29 October 2018, both the CDU's General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn announced their candidacy in the election. This was followed by Merkel's arch-rival Friedrich Merz announced his bid on 30 October 2018.[3][4]

Kramp-Karrenbauer was elected leader by winning 45.05% of the vote.[5] Merz won 39.24% of the vote and Spahn won 15.72% of the vote.

Candidates change

  • Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer — General Secretary of the CDU (2018–today), Minister-President of Saarland (2011–2018), Leader of the CDU Saar (2011–2018), Minister for Family and Social Affairs in Saarland (2009–2011), Minister for Education in Saarland (2007–2009), Minister for the Interior in Saarland (2000–2007), Member of Landtag of Saarland (1999–2018), Member of Bundestag (1998)[6][4] Kramp-Karrenbauer has been endorsed by the Saarland state association of the CDU.
  • Friedrich Merz — Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Leader of the CDU (2000–2002), Member of Bundestag (1994–2009), Member of the European Parliament (1989–1994)[6][4] Merz has been endorsed by the local associations of Fulda and of Hochsauerland.
  • Jens Spahn — Minister for Health (2018–today), Parliamentary Secretary of State for Finance (2015–2018), Member of Bundestag (2002–today)[6][4] Spahn has been endorsed by the local association of Borken.

Polling change

Publication date Poll source Annegret
Kramp-Karrenbauer
Friedrich
Merz
Jens
Spahn
None/
Others
23 Nov 2018 FGW Archived 2018-11-24 at the Wayback Machine 30 24 6 40
17 Nov 2018 Emnid 30 31 12 27
15 Nov 2018 Infratest dimap 43 32 10 15
11 Nov 2018 Emnid 32 30 9 29
9 Nov 2018 FGW 31 25 6 38
4 Nov 2018 Emnid 27 38 13 22
1 Nov 2018 YouGov Archived 2019-09-12 at the Wayback Machine 17 23 7 53

References change

  1. Blond, Josie Le (2018-10-29). "Merkel suffers another election setback in key German state of Hesse". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  2. "Sonntagsfrage – Forsa (Wahlumfragen zur Bundestagswahl)". Wahlrecht.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  3. Henley, Jon (2018-10-30). "Angela Merkel exit plan sparks succession battle in party ranks". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Wer löst Merkel ab?, n-tv, 29 Oct 2018
  5. Connolly, Kate (7 December 2018). "Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer elected Merkel's successor as CDU leader". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Zwei Konservative, eine Merkel-Treue, ZEIT, 219 Oct 2018