Fängt ja gut an: 15/03/21

This caricature, entitled 'Well this has started well', satirises the somewhat rocky start of the CDU's 2021 election campaign. CDU Leader Armin Laschet is depicted, dizzy and concussed, after the first two rungs of the ladder (labelled 'super-election year 2021') have broken. The first rung, 'BW', stands for the state of Baden-Württemberg, while the second, 'RP', represents Rheinland-Pfalz.

This refers to the results of the 'Landtagswahlen' (elections within the federal states) in March, which saw victories for Die Grünen in BW and for the SPD in RP. In Baden-Württemberg, votes for the CDU reached an all-time low at 24.1%, and speculation immediately arose as to whether Kretschmann's Die Grünen would again enter into a coaliton with the CDU, or choose to form alliances with other parties. The CDU also lost votes in Rheinland-Pfalz, ending up with the worst result the Party has ever had in the state.

(Source: https://www.swr3.de/aktuell/nachrichten/ltw-bw-rp-hochrechnung-ergebnis-100.html)

The possible explanations for this loss of popularity are numerous, and will no doubt be further analysed by caricaturists and political commentators as the election draws closer. The 'Maskenaffäre' - also recently addressed by the caricaturists of the Stuttgarter Zeitung - has certainly damaged the Party's image, and frustration towards the slow progress of the COVID-19 vaccination programme may also pose a challenge to the CDU, which, being the ruling Party, may be held responsible by many voters.

The stepping down of Angela Merkel is undoubtedly a significant factor which has created uncertainty and may have alienated those who have voted CDU in recent years based on her leadership and personality. After more than 15 years as Bundeskanzlerin, she has become a hugely defining feature of the Party and a symbol of stability. Without this stability to work favour of the CDU, some voters may now begin to look elsewhere - indeed, it seems they have already begun to do so.