Berlin. Former CDU Secretary-General Ruprecht Polenz sees Chancellor Friedrich Merz's (CDU) announcement that he intends to remain in office for "a considerable time" as a clear message to potential rivals. In an interview with the Rheinische Post (Friday edition), Polenz stated that now is not the time for "a parade of would-be successors."
Friedrich Merz vows to remain Chancellor amid CDU leadership whispers
Given the "whispers" within the party, Polenz added, it was right for Merz to make such a statement ahead of the upcoming CDU conference. Germany, he argued, needs a stable government—especially in light of mounting geopolitical threats. "Speculation about what happens after the next federal election in three years is entirely out of place. Friedrich Merz wants to nip this in the bud," Polenz said.
The 70-year-old Merz had declared at a campaign event in Trier on Wednesday evening: "I do intend to stay on for quite some time." He noted that his father had turned 102 in January.
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