Laschet gradually gives up party chairmanship

The candidate for chancellor, outgoing Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia and CDU Chairman is stepping down as party leader. In a public statement on Thursday evening, Laschet said that the task now was to make a „fresh start, whether in government or opposition.“ He added that this would require new personalities, „from the chairman to the presidium to the federal executive committee.“ He now wants to moderate this transition.