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Leader of the Christian Democratic Union

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Leader of the Christian Democratic Union
Vorsitzender der Christlich Demokratischen Union
since 31 January 2022
Type1029
Member ofFederal Executive Presidium
SeatKonrad-Adenauer-Haus
Formation1 March 1946
First holderKonrad Adenauer
Websitehttps://www.cdu.de/ueber-uns/struktur-der-cdu

The Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (Vorsitzender der Christlich Demokratischen Union) is the most senior political figure within the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. Since 31 January 2022, the office has been held by Friedrich Merz, who succeeded Armin Laschet.[1]

The Leader of the Christian Democratic Union Party is supported by a General Secretary who, since 12 July 2023, has been Carsten Linnemann.

Leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (1946–present)

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A list of leaders since 1946[2]

Portrait Name
(Born–Died)
Term of office State Chancellor
Took office Left office Days
1 Konrad Adenauer
(1876–1967)
1 March 1946 23 March 1966 20 years, 22 days  North Rhine-Westphalia Himself
Ludwig Erhard
2 Ludwig Erhard
(1897–1977)
[a]
23 March 1966 23 May 1967 1 year, 61 days  Baden-Württemberg Himself
Kurt Georg Kiesinger
3 Kurt Georg Kiesinger
(1904–1988)
23 May 1967 5 October 1971 4 years, 135 days  Baden-Württemberg Himself
Willy Brandt
4 Rainer Barzel
(1924–2006)
5 October 1971 12 June 1973 1 year, 250 days  North Rhine-Westphalia Willy Brandt
5 Helmut Kohl
(1930–2017)
12 June 1973 7 November 1998 25 years, 148 days  Rhineland-Palatinate Willy Brandt
Helmut Schmidt
Himself
6 Wolfgang Schäuble
(1942–2023)
7 November 1998 16 February 2000 1 year, 101 days  Baden-Württemberg Gerhard Schröder
7 Angela Merkel
(born 1954)
10 April 2000 7 December 2018 18 years, 241 days  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Gerhard Schröder
Herself
8 Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
(born 1962)
7 December 2018 22 January 2021 2 years, 46 days  Saarland Angela Merkel
9 Armin Laschet
(born 1961)
22 January 2021 31 January 2022 1 year, 9 days  North Rhine-Westphalia Angela Merkel
Olaf Scholz
10 Friedrich Merz
(born 1955)
31 January 2022 Incumbent 2 years, 295 days  North Rhine-Westphalia Olaf Scholz

Timeline

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Friedrich MerzArmin LaschetAnnegret Kramp-KarrenbauerAngela MerkelWolfgang SchäubleHelmut KohlRainer BarzelKurt Georg KiesingerLudwig ErhardKonard Adenauer

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ There is uncertainty over the question whether Erhard was ever actually a member of the CDU. Reports at the time suggested that he joined the party when he became chairman, although his membership was backdated by three years. However, reports in 2007 suggested that Erhard never actually joined the CDU. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which holds the party archives, reported that the question could "not be answered conclusively."[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Friedrich Merz takes over as leader of Germany's Christian Democrats". The Economist. 22 January 2022. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Startseite". Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (in German). Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  3. ^ Kellerhoff, Sven Felix (25 April 2007). "Der Kanzler, der nie Mitglied seiner Partei war". Die Welt. Retrieved 25 April 2018.