2018 Christian Democratic Union of Germany leadership election facts for kids

The 2018 Christian Democratic Union leadership election was held in Hamburg on 7 December 2018. This is after Angela Merkel's decision in October 2018 not to stand for party leader at the 2018 party conference following the party's bad performance in the 2018 Hessian state election and low numbers in national polls.

On 29 October 2018, both the CDU's General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and the Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn announced their candidacy in the election. This was followed by Merkel's arch-rival Friedrich Merz announced his bid on 30 October 2018.

Kramp-Karrenbauer was elected leader by winning 45.05% of the vote. Merz won 39.24% of the vote and Spahn won 15.72% of the vote.

Candidates

• Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer — General Secretary of the CDU (2018–today), Minister-President of Saarland (2011–2018), Leader of the CDU Saar (2011–2018), Minister for Family and Social Affairs in Saarland (2009–2011), Minister for Education in Saarland (2007–2009), Minister for the Interior in Saarland (2000–2007), Member of Landtag of Saarland (1999–2018), Member of Bundestag (1998) Kramp-Karrenbauer has been endorsed by the Saarland state association of the CDU.
• Friedrich Merz — Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Leader of the CDU (2000–2002), Member of Bundestag (1994–2009), Member of the European Parliament (1989–1994) Merz has been endorsed by the local associations of Fulda and of Hochsauerland.
• Jens Spahn — Minister for Health (2018–today), Parliamentary Secretary of State for Finance (2015–2018), Member of Bundestag (2002–today) Spahn has been endorsed by the local association of Borken.

• 

  General Secretary
  Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
  from Saarland

• 

  Former MP
  Friedrich Merz
  from North Rhine-Westphalia

• 

  Health Minister
  Jens Spahn
  from North Rhine-Westphalia

Polling

See also

In Spanish: Elección de liderazgo de la Unión Demócrata Cristiana de Alemania de 2018 para niños