New CDU leader seeks to distance herself from Angela Merkel

The new leader of Germany’s governing Christian Democrats (CDU) tried to distance herself from Angela Merkel over the weekend, as some in the party worry the woman known as “mini Merkel” will fail to win back disillusioned voters.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has tried to soothe fears on the right wing of the party by telling a reporter she is prepared to “pit herself” against the centrist Chancellor if she thinks it is in the interests of the party.

Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer defeated conservative rival Friedrich Merz in a vote at the party conference on Friday to take the helm after 18 years of domination by Ms Merkel.

Mrs Merkel was forced to relinquish the party chair after a string of poor election results, but intends to see out her current term as Chancellor.

The contest became a fraught battle over the future. Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer had been groomed for the role by Mrs Merkel, while Mr Merz rallied those eager for change.

In the end Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer won 52 percent of the vote, showing how split the party is over Mrs Merkel’s legacy. But Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer told broadcaster ARD on Saturday that she would be no patsy.

She said that she expected Mrs Merkel to “clarify” all future policies with her before she discussed it with the other parties in Germany’s coalition government.

Asked if this meant she would pit herself against her mentor, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer replied “yes, in situations where it is in the interests of the party.”

The comments were a clear signal to supporters of Mr Merz who have demanded that Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer now give the party a more conservative profile after a drift to the centre opened a gap on the right of German politics for the populist AfD to exploit.

The CDU won only 33 percent of the vote in the national election last year, their worst result in almost 70 years. Nonetheless, Mrs Merkel is expected to be delighted that Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer won. She pulled her from relative obscurity as prime minister of Saarland to take over as party secretary general earlier this year, reportedly in preparation for her succession.

Many believe that if Mr Merz had won, Mrs Merel’s days would have been numbered. Analysts now believe that the Chancellor will be able to pick her own time of departure.