The Structural Dilemma of the Christian Democratic Union: Managing the Political Succession in Post-Merkel Germany
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany’s primary political force, faces its most complex organizational and strategic test since the late 1990s. The upcoming power transition in the next Bundestag election represents more than a routine rotation of governing elites; it poses an existential question regarding the ability of the German center-right to reinvent itself following an extraordinary 16-year era under Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Hierarchical Legacy of the Chancellorship: Historical Legitimacy vs. Institutional Entitlement Historically, the executive power structure in the Federal Republic of Germany has rested on a pivotal role for the Chancellor, with only a limited number of exceptional figures exerting notable geopolitical influence. Institutionally, the CDU builds on the legacy of two central leaders: * Helmut Kohl (Architect of Reunification): Shaped the geopolitical framework of a unified Germany and integrated it into the European sphere, before the party l...