Angela Merkel’s party in disarray as CDU leader prepares to resign after election humiliation | world | News

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Angela Merkel was bothering herself while giving a speech at the German Bundestag

The CDU recorded a historic low in the German federal elections, which were held on September 26. The CDU received 24.1 percent of the vote, according to the Federal Election Agency, down from 32.9 percent in 2017.

The Social Democratic Party (center-left) won the elections with 25.7 percent of the vote.

Merkel, who is preparing to step down after 16 years in power, saw her party in disarray with news of Mr Laschet’s decision to resign.

Slowly but surely, Armin Laschet on Monday began to admit the obvious: He lost.

After a grueling morning of recriminations behind closed doors, Germany’s ruling Christian Democrat leader, looking tired and disheveled, stood in front of the cameras at party headquarters and defended a tepid state to lead the next government.

Even as Laschet, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, insisted he would still be a soldier after the center-right’s historic loss in Sunday’s national election, it was becoming increasingly clear that his heart was no longer in the fray.

Laschet, which campaigned with its Bavarian partner, the Christian Social Union, came second with 24.1 percent of the vote, losing more than a quarter of its support – or about 6.5 million voters – compared to the last election in 2017.

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Merkel’s CDU in post-election disarray (Image: GETTY)

Armin Laschet failed in his bid to succeed Merkel as chancellor (Image: GETTY)

The Social Democrats, currently the junior partner in Germany’s ruling coalition, garnered 25.7 percent of the vote, an increase of more than a quarter from 2017 and a clear, if modest, lead over the conservatives.

“I would have preferred to be first,” Laschet said of his party’s worst performance in the post-war national election. “I understand, of course, that I bear some personal responsibility for this outcome.”

Although he offered congratulations to the winners, Laschet refused to accept that the Social Democrats had a mandate to build a coalition, arguing that any result below 30 percent was not enough to make such a claim.

The German Christian Democratic Union has seen 16 years of domination with Merkel (Image: GETTY)

Olaf Schulz came close to succeeding Angela Merkel as German chancellor after the Greens and Liberals announced their willingness to enter formal coalition talks with his Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Schulz, who is also finance minister, welcomed the deal, which was launched with a call by the Greens to the Liberal Democrats (FDP) for the three parties to start talks on Thursday.

It makes the prospect of a center-left government replacing the centre-right-led government that has been in power for 16 years more likely than at any time since the September 26 elections.

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Olaf Schulz is likely to be the next German chancellor (Image: GETTY)

Schulz said talks would focus on forming a government that would “bring about the necessary progress and modernization in Germany,” and added that he was “gratified for the very professional and serious way in which the Greens and the FDP were so quick to form a government.”

Speaking about his reasons for stepping down, Laschet said the party platform is more important than individual members and that he is “happy” to step down if the CDU can do better with others in the leadership, according to German media.

His party is currently in coalition negotiations, with neither he nor the SPD winning a clear majority, with a difference of only 1.6 percentage points between the two.

A new chancellor is set to take over after 16 years of Merkel’s existence (Image: GETTY)

During a visit to Washington, D.C. in July, Angela Merkel was asked how she envisioned her retirement.

Although she has answered this question evasively on other occasions, this time she has allowed herself to take a break and will not accept any invitations. She said she had to accept that her previous assignments “will now be done by someone else,” adding, “I think I would like this very much.”

Angela Merkel turned 67 on July 17. She had no financial concerns. As a consultant, she gets 25,000 euros ($29,000) a month.

Furthermore, she earns around €10,000 for her role as a member of the Bundestag, a job she has been doing for over 30 years.

When Merkel stops working, she will continue to receive her full salary for three months and then a transitional allowance at half her wages for a maximum of 21 months.

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