Is Friedrich Merz the Leader Germany Needs? CDU’s Identity Crisis in the Age of Personalization
Is Friedrich Merz the Leader Germany Needs? CDU’s Identity Crisis in the Age of Personalization
Author(s): Martina Beránková, Marcela KonrádováSubject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Governance, Public Administration, Labor relations, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Electoral systems, Methodology and research technology, Comparative politics
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: leader democracy; leader selection; qualities of leader; personal brand; German CDU; Friedrich Merz
Summary/Abstract: This study investigates how a traditional political party, the German CDU, has responded to increasing public demand for charismatic leadership. By analyzing the leadership of Friedrich Merz through the framework of plebiscitary leader democracy, the research highlights how the CDU has navigated the balance between intra-party authority and broader electoral appeal. This qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, explores the perceptions, ideas, and priorities of key party politics stakeholders. The findings reveal that Merz has successfully positioned himself within the party by excelling in the four competition values of plebiscitary leader democracy: meritocracy, peaceful conflict resolution, integration, and repoliticization. His election was followed by the CDU’s first-ever all-member vote, which marked a departure from previous elite-driven selection processes, granting him a strong internal mandate. However, the study also underscores the challenge of translating intra-party dominance into national electoral success.
Journal: Politologický časopis - Czech Journal of Political Science
- Issue Year: XXXIII/2026
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 4-28
- Page Count: 24
- Language: English
