Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer über Merz, Merkel und die nächste Bundespräsidentin

Who will succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier? Former CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, better known as "AKK," has made her position clear: "It will be a woman." Could she imagine herself as a candidate? She has a clear answer to that as well. In conversation with Julia Emmrich and Jan Dörner, she talks about her relationship with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and how things are today between her and the man who tried unsuccessfully to prevent her from becoming party leader and then head of the Adenauer Foundation. And, of course, the conversation also touches on Angela Merkel: When AKK broke up the first Jamaica coalition in Saarland, the then-Chancellor contacted her from Berlin—and was not amused: "Merkel called, and let me put it this way: If anyone claims she can't raise her voice, I can tell them that's not true." It was a big risk back then. Kramp-Karrenbauer could easily have gone down in history as the state premier with the longest name but the shortest term in office. But things turned out differently: She was first re-elected in Saarland, then in 2018 became CDU General Secretary, followed by two years as CDU Chairwoman, and later, under Chancellor Angela Merkel, Minister of Defense. The 63-year-old is now Chairwoman of the Adenauer Foundation – even though Friedrich Merz had originally wanted a man to hold the position. Today, she says of Merz and herself: "We have a relationship that is more than just a cold working relationship, one that you maintain because you have to." They talk on the phone, they text. But they haven't become friends. Merkel, on the other hand, describes it differently: AKK calls their relationship "comradely" and enjoys staying in touch with the former Chancellor: "We finally managed to have our coffee recently, which we had arranged." 🎙️ Listen now – wherever you get your podcasts. 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3XQFwvX... 👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast... 👉 Amazon: https://music.amazon.de/podcasts/a6aa... Questions or feedback? Feel free to write to us: [email protected] Enjoy listening – and please share! Production: Simon Eichinger, Alexandra Schaller Copyright notice: FUNKE Foto Services #MyTotalDifficultDecision #Podcast #Funke