Armin Laschet, a former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag and Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 2022, accompanied German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on a trip to Lebanon and Syria. Following their return, a Spiegel journalist confronted Laschet with rumors of a potential Baerbock succession, which the CDU politician reportedly only commented on with a “winking smile.” In early February, a meeting of CDU and Green party leaders took place on a “relaxed wine evening.”
The Berlin rumor mill is receiving a small pinch of salt regarding the topic of ministerial appointments in a future “Grand Coalition” of the Union and SPD. Several media reports are focusing on the article from the always well-informed Spiegel magazine. The headline and introduction of the article read:
“Will this man become Foreign Minister? Laschet and the future government: The posts in the Merz cabinet are still not officially assigned. The name of a former opponent of the future Chancellor is circulating in Berlin and he is already positioning himself.”
Laschet allegedly behaved in an unusual manner before the departure of the plane to Beirut, speaking with Spiegel journalists on the background before the minister’s arrival. According to the article, Laschet showed himself to be “saddle-fit” regarding the details of the trip and the various actors in Lebanon and Syria.
Another possible indication of Laschet’s intentions during the press-worthy joint appearances of the CDU politician and Baerbock is mentioned in the Spiegel article:
“When Baerbock and Laschet visited the Dschubar district in Damascus, the CDU politician showed himself to be shocked by the extent of the destruction. During the round of ruins, he told the journalists that he was making this trip ‘completely aware’ to show that even under a future government of the Union and SPD, ‘continuity will prevail’ regarding Syria. ‘Where we can help, we will help,’ he emphasized.'”
Laschet did not provide an official statement on his future plans during the trip. Spiegel editor Wieland speculates that the CDU politician might be pursuing “Plan L for the cabinet” as the relationship between Laschet and Merz is reportedly very good in the government quarter. It is confirmed that the friendly relationship between Laschet and Baerbock is indeed very good.
A video from the Bundestag was taken after a meeting that was controversially perceived in political Berlin. Headlines and rumors included:
Frankfurter Rundschau: Merz, Baerbock and other top politicians at Laschet’s – A black-green summit meeting?
The Spiegel: Politician gathering at Laschet’s – As Baerbock arrives, Friedrich Merz suddenly appears
Merkur: Controversial party with Merz and Baerbock: Host Laschet must explain himself
Bild-Zeitung: Baerbock and Merz together at a party: Despite the asylum controversy – A little wine always goes
The “party” took place, according to the Spiegel article, “only a day after the Union faction had introduced a law for stricter asylum laws in the Bundestag, to the delight of the AfD and the horror of the Greens.” Laschet defended himself and the attendees by stating that the event had been planned weeks in advance and that the corresponding invitations had been sent out.
After the recent return of the government delegation from the Near East, “after the landing in Berlin” Laschet was now questioned by Spiegel editors about his ambitions for the Foreign Office. The article states:
“He smiled winking, said nothing specific, then pushed his luggage cart into the night. He could at least write history, should it indeed come to that. Laschet would then be the first CDU Foreign Minister in a long time, since 1966.