News analysis

Germany's CDU opts for status quo, ducks big issues

By voting for Merkel's protege, it is not addressing concerns over migration, among other concerns

German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulating her protege, Mrs Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, after the latter won a party vote to succeed her as leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union last Friday. AKK - as she is popularly known by her
German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulating her protege, Mrs Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, after the latter won a party vote to succeed her as leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union last Friday. AKK - as she is popularly known by her initials - defeated rival Friedrich Merz narrowly, with 517 of the 999 votes cast. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel heaved a sigh of relief after her protege, Mrs Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, scored a narrow win at the party convention in Hamburg last Friday.

Mrs Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is widely known by her initials AKK, has succeeded Dr Merkel as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), thus allowing the Chancellor to continue with her political agenda without facing a lot of headwind from the party as long as she remains in office.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 09, 2018, with the headline Germany's CDU opts for status quo, ducks big issues. Subscribe