Thorsten Frei has dismissed doubts about how CDU state premiers are positioning themselves in the party's leadership debate, according to DIE ZEIT. The report, published Thursday, centers on a statement from the CDU minister-presidents and Frei's response to questions about where they stand regarding Friedrich Merz.
DIE ZEIT's coverage follows a separate opinion piece in Der Spiegel arguing that a letter of support for Merz — described as a "Soli-Brief" for the chancellor — backfired badly. That assessment, reported by Spiegel, is presented as commentary rather than a statement of fact.
The wider discussion also touches on who within the Union is seen as a viable candidate for chancellor. FOCUS online reported the remark that there is "no one except Söder who wants to become chancellor," while RP Online carried a similar formulation, saying that "basically there is no one who wants to become chancellor." Both outlets framed the comments around the same underlying question of ambition and candidacy within the party.
Bild also weighed in, with a commentary by Paul Ronzheimer that was sharply critical, though the summary available does not detail the specific arguments made. Taken together, the coverage points to an ongoing internal conversation in the CDU and its sister party about leadership direction and public positioning.
What to watch next: whether the CDU minister-presidents issue a clearer joint statement on their stance, and how Merz's supporters respond to the critical commentary.