27.05.2026 18:31
It has been claimed that discussions have begun about who would replace German Chancellor Friedrich Merz if he steps down, as reform processes in the government have stalled and his party, the CDU, is experiencing low approval ratings. Behind the scenes, North Rhine-Westphalia State Premier Hendrik Wüst is being cited as the strongest candidate.
It has been claimed that discussions are taking place behind the scenes in Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) about possible successors to Chancellor Friedrich Merz if he steps down.
POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS TO MERZ BEING DISCUSSED
According to a report by the German newspaper Bild, alternative leadership scenarios have emerged within the party due to the stalling of reform processes in the government and the CDU's low polling numbers in public opinion surveys.
The report alleged that within the CDU's top management bodies and among leading party members, it is being evaluated whether it is possible to replace Merz with someone else.
The report stated that these discussions do not constitute official planning but rather consist of exchanges of ideas conducted in small groups, and it was claimed that such a step carries serious political risks.
THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE: HENDRIK WÜST
The report noted that if the chancellor resigns, a new candidate could be elected by the Federal Parliament without the need for an election. Among Merz's possible successors, the names of North Rhine-Westphalia State Premier Hendrik Wüst, Rhineland-Palatinate State Premier Boris Rhein, and Saxony State Premier Michael Kretschmer stand out.
The report asserted that Wüst, in particular, is considered the strongest candidate to replace Merz during the current legislative term.
The report included an assessment from constitutional law expert Josef Franz Lindner, who noted that under Article 67 of the German Constitution, the Federal Parliament can elect a new chancellor to replace the current one through a "constructive vote of no confidence."