The Greens had surged ahead of the CDU-CSU conservative bloc earlier this year after nominating young hopeful Annalena Baerbock as their candidate to succeed Merkel following Germany’s September 26 election. Plagiarism claimsBut the plagiarism allegations in particular have proven damaging for Baerbock in a country where several ministers have resigned in recent yearsover similar scandals. But a recent poll had the North Rhine-Westphalia state premier in front on 25 percent, with Baerbock behind on 19 percent. But critics say Laschet’s current success in the polls has less to do with his platform and more to do with the flat-footed campaign of the Greens. The CDU-CSU alliance “has Annalena Baerbock to thank for its comfortable position”, Der Spiegel magazine wrote on Saturday.

Source: The Local July 12, 2021 08:37 UTC