The race to lead Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came down to a conservative, a modernizer and a continuity candidate. In Germany, Russia-friendly Armin Laschet takes charge of Merkelâs party Posted on January 16, 2021 by foccusser 9 comments German politician Armin Laschet, on Jan. 16, won the leadership nomination for the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, which has been in power since 2005. What kind of rapport he strikes with the new U.S. leader remains to be seen. What foreign ⦠Critics accuse the CDU leader of always being too lenient with Moscow. He also indicated that, in his opinion, the situation with Crimea was the reason for the introduction of the main part of the sanctions. The 59-year-old state leader from the industrial heartlands endorses ⦠Armin Laschet, the newly elected leader of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, is increasingly scrutinizing past statements in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syriaâs Assad regime. Armin Laschet has the reputation of understanding Russia. Armin Laschet, the premier of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germanyâs most populous state, will be the new leader of the countryâs governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU). FEDERICO GAMBARINI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Laschet has replaced Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who resigned as chairwoman of the conservative CDU early in 2020. Political scientist and historian (FU Berlin), and deputy director of the Berlin Center for East European Studies (Osteuropa-Zentrum Berlin e.V.). If CDU wins the federal election in September, Laschet will succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor of Germany. 20.01.2021. Dmitri Stratievski + posts. He ignores the fact that there simultaneously is both a geopolitical and a value conflict with Moscow. Laschet is known for his friendly attitude towards authoritarian regimes. What happened: The party of Angela Merkel opted for continuity on Sunday, picking North Rhine-Westphalia Governor Armin Laschet, a centrist Merkel ally.With Merkel set to step down later this year after 16 years in power, Laschet is now the ⦠"Armin Laschet received 521 votes, Friedrich Merz got 466 votes. The CDU has led Germanyâs federal government for 52 of the past 72 years. "You get the impression that Armin Laschet still believes in a partnership with Putin's Russia. Thus, Armin Laschet has been elected, he received an absolute majority of votes", the CDU chairperson said, as broadcast by the N24 channel. He is seen as representing the ⦠On 16 January 2021, he was elected as the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).. Laschet earned a law degree and worked as a journalist before and during his early political career. Armin Laschet, the newly elected leader of Germanyâs Christian Democrats, is coming under mounting scrutiny over statements he has made in the past defending Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Assad regime in Syria. Armin Laschet, North Rhine-Westphalia's State Premier and state chairman of the CDU, speaks in a studio in Cologne, Germany, on Jan. 9, 2021. Mr Laschet, prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, beat rival Friedrich Merz in a digital leadership election on Saturday. Rachette, the prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, defeated rival Friedrich Merz in a digital leadership election on Saturday. Armin Laschet (born 18 February 1961) is a German politician serving as the Minister-President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia since 27 June 2017. German politician Armin Laschet, on Jan. 16, won the leadership nomination for the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, which has been in power since 2005. 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