CDU's North Rhine-Westphalia state leader Hendrik Wüst secures another term as the party's chair following re-election - Proposal sought for safeguarding workers from radiation hazards through Commission's proposed directive on ionizing radiation protection.
Hendrik Wüst Takes Over as CDU State Chairperson in North Rhine-Westphalia
Hendrik Wüst has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), following Armin Laschet's departure from the position. The state party conference, which took place in Bonn in October 2023, saw Wüst secure an impressive 96.7% of the votes.
Wüst's predecessor, Armin Laschet, is now a member of the Bundestag. Laschet's previous bid for the chancellorship in 2021 was unsuccessful.
The re-election of Wüst comes after he withdrew his candidacy for the chancellor position in the 2025 federal election last year. However, he remained a potential candidate for the position, with many considering him a strong contender.
In a surprising turn of events, Friedrich Merz, a member of the Bundestag, replaced Wüst as the CDU's candidate for the 2025 federal chancellor election. This decision was made in September 2024, after Wüst announced he would not run and endorsed Merz for the position. Markus Söder also withdrew his candidacy in favor of Merz.
Merz, in his message, expressed that he looks forward to continuing to work with Wüst in a spirit of trust. The two leaders have yet to meet in person following the election, but Merz congratulated Wüst on his re-election via the internet service X after the conference.
In addition to Wüst's re-election, General Secretary Paul Ziemiak was also re-elected at the state party conference with 91% of the votes.
The 2025 federal election is scheduled to take place, and the CDU is gearing up for the upcoming contest. Friedrich Merz, the Federal Chancellor and CDU leader, attended the CDU State Party Conference in North Rhine-Westphalia as a guest.
The state party conference in October 2023 marked a significant moment in the CDU's history in North Rhine-Westphalia, with Wüst taking over as the current State Chairperson. As the party prepares for the 2025 federal election, Wüst's leadership and Merz's candidacy are expected to play key roles in shaping the CDU's future.
