According to a poll conducted by
Der Spiegel, 51% of the overall population and 45% of the CDU/CSU members polled do not think that Laschet is a good choice for party chair.
With regard to potential chancellor candidates, Bavarian leader Markus Söder – who previously said he is not interested in giving up his position in Bavaria – is leading the race with the support of 36% of CDU/CSU party members, a Forsa poll released on Monday found. By comparison, Laschet polled at 21%.
Another opponent could even be former parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz. Though Laschet defeated Merz on Saturday, Alexander Mitsch, chair of the arch-conservative movement within the CDU/CSU known as the WerteUnion, said he still wants Merz to be the party’s chancellor candidate.