Wüst identifies a maximum of five potential chancellors.
The debate over CDU leader Merz's bid for chancellor in the upcoming fall elections continues to simmer. NRW state premier Wüst has identified several potential candidates, but himself is not keen on the role.
During an interview with ARD's "Konfrontation: Markus Feldenkirchen meets Hendrik Wüst," the North Rhine-Westphalian minister president, often mentioned as a potential CSU and CDU candidate for chancellor, did not dismiss the possibility. "I think the question is still open, otherwise we would have made a decision by now. As long as it's not decided, it's still open," Wüst remarked.
Wüst believes there's no need to limit the discussion on the so-called "K question" to CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder. "Any minister president has experience in government and the ability to be a chancellor candidate." He currently sees "more like five than ten" potential Union chancellor candidates.
His equal standing with Söder and higher position than Merz in the most recent "Deutschlandtrend" survey on the K question is viewed by Wüst as "a type of approval of my work" as minister president. The 48-year-old urges all party leaders, including the state chairmen and minister presidents of the Union, to participate in this critical choice. Berlin's ruling mayor, Kai Wegner, had previously expressed a similar view. However, Saxony's minister president Michael Kretschmer declared in late December that the K question was already decided in favor of Merz. Nevertheless, he insisted that any decision should only be made after the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia in September.
Wüst also shared that he had patched up his differences with CDU leader Merz after a significant conflict a year ago. "There was a conversation, which went smoothly, like the first steam had dissipated. Merz shared his concerns. And I, too, expressed my grievances. And then everything became fine."
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In the ongoing discussion about the CDU's chancellor candidate for the Federal election 2025, Wüst, the NRW state premier and potential candidate, hinted at the possibility of considering himself for the role during an interview. Amidst this, Merz, the CDU leader, continues to face critics and controversy over his bid for chancellor, while Wüst, who has higher approval ratings than Merz in recent surveys, sees a significant number of potential Union chancellor candidates, more than ten, including himself and CSU leader Söder.
