Berlin CDU faces uphill battle with new lead candidate Stefan Evers

Stefan Evers, Berlin's finance senator, is stepping into the lead candidacy for the CDU in the upcoming House of Representatives election under challenging circumstances. The party has seen a significant decline in polls, recently falling to fourth place with only 17 percent support, trailing behind the Left Party, the Greens, and the AfD. The current governing coalition, led by Mayor Kai Wegner of the CDU, has long lost its majority.

Wegner unexpectedly announced his withdrawal as the CDU's lead candidate on Friday afternoon. This decision came after mounting pressure regarding his inconsistent statements about crisis management during a major power outage in the capital earlier this year. Growing concerns within the CDU about further revelations contributed to his departure.

“

I am taking over the lead candidacy and provisionally the state chairmanship of the CDU in an extremely difficult situation.

Evers acknowledged the "extremely difficult situation" as he takes on the lead candidacy and interim leadership of the CDU in Berlin. The state executive board is expected to formally approve his candidacy on Monday. A key challenge for Evers is his lack of widespread name recognition, which is considered a significant disadvantage for any candidate.

“

The CDU is trying to pretend with the nomination of Stefan Evers that a new beginning is possible. But on September 20, parties are elected first and foremost. And Stefan Evers must also take responsibility for the balance sheet of three years of CDU government.

Opposition parties have been critical. Nina Stahr, co-chair of the Green Party in Berlin, stated that the CDU's nomination of Evers is an attempt to feign a fresh start, emphasizing that voters elect parties, not just candidates. She argued that Evers must also take responsibility for the CDU's three years in government, criticizing his budget policies for creating uncertainty and chaos for social organizations, science, and culture.

Kristin Brinker, the AfD's state chairwoman and lead candidate, echoed this sentiment, calling Evers the CDU's "last resort" and criticizing his tenure as finance senator for the city's significant debt.

“

Evers is the CDU's last resort and, as finance senator, responsible for by far the largest debt.