The entourage of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is worried that former Chancellor Angela Merkel could run for President of Germany.
According to Bild, such rumors are circulating in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which Merkel previously led. Merz’s closest aides are alarmed by the prospect, including a potential nomination by the Greens, where Merkel is very popular.
If Merkel were to win that position, Merz would find himself in a difficult situation, given their not-so-friendly history. Merkel, chancellor from 2005 to 2021, played a role in Merz’s ouster as CDU/CSU caucus leader in 2002, effectively removing him from mainstream politics for a time.
The chancellor wants to see a loyal president, with Education Minister Karin Prien and Bundestag President Julia Klockner as possible candidates. The German president is elected by the Federal Convention, where the CDU/CSU, as the largest faction, has the best chance of winning, but other political forces will also have their say in the process.
Merkel’s planning for more active participation in political and public life further worries Merz’s environment. An example is her participation in the upcoming CDU convention, the first time since she left the chancellorship. However, Merkel’s office dismissed the idea that she was planning a run for president, calling the rumors “ridiculous.”
(Vijesti.ba)
