Cologne CDU Leadership Showdown: Güler Faces Hirte in Chairman Election
Table of Contents
- Cologne CDU Leadership Showdown: Güler Faces Hirte in Chairman Election
- Cologne CDU Leadership Showdown: Your Burning Questions Answered
- Who is Running for Chairman of the Cologne CDU?
- Who is Serap Güler?
- Who is Heribert Hirte?
- What are Hirte’s qualifications?
- Why is Heribert Hirte running for chairman?
- Where is the election taking place?
- When is the election?
- who is the current interim chairman?
- are there any other candidates?
- What did Mario Ebel say about his candidacy?
- Is Serap Güler the frontrunner?
- Who was the previous chairman?
- What other positions are being filled?
- Is there a lot of interest in the extended board positions?
- Summary of the Candidates
COLOGNE, Germany – The Cologne chapter of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to elect a new chairman Saturday, with current Member of Parliament Serap Güler facing a challenge from former MP Heribert Hirte. The election takes place in the Kristallsaal at the Cologne Messe. Florian Braun, a state parliament member, has been serving as interim chairman following Karl Mandl’s resignation in March after two years in office.
The Candidates
Serap Güler, a current member of the Bundestag and the CDU’s vice-chairwoman in Cologne since 2014, is vying to become the first elected woman to lead the Cologne CDU in its 80-year history. Her main challenger is Heribert Hirte, who directly won the southwestern Cologne constituency twice, in 2013 with 39.97% of the vote and again in 2017 with 34.89%. The CDU did not nominate Hirte in 2021, a decision that reportedly disappointed him.

As of friday afternoon, othre candidates included businessman Mario Ebel, attorney Hans Günther Kersten, and party member Gundolf Siebeke. Ebel stated he was “tired of the established party establishment distributing posts among themselves.” kersten declined to comment. Despite Hirte’s candidacy, Güler is considered the frontrunner. Additional candidates can also nominate themselves on the election day.
Hirte’s Motivation
Hirte stated Friday, “I would like to become chairman of the Cologne CDU as I have shown that I can win a Bundestag constituency twice.” He added, “From my personal perspective, the legal and financial irregularities…” (Further context on this statement was not provided in the source material.)
Extended Board Positions
The CDU is also seeking 25 additional members for the extended board. Sources indicate significant interest, with over 40 individuals reportedly vying for these positions.
Cologne CDU Leadership Showdown: Your Burning Questions Answered
Who is Running for Chairman of the Cologne CDU?
The Cologne chapter of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is holding an election for a new chairman.The primary candidates are Serap Güler and Heribert Hirte. Additional candidates coudl also nominate themselves on the election day.
Who is Serap Güler?
Serap Güler is a current Member of Parliament (Bundestag) and the CDU’s vice-chairwoman in Cologne since 2014. She is vying to become the first elected woman to lead the Cologne CDU in its 80-year history.
Who is Heribert Hirte?
Heribert Hirte is a former Member of Parliament who directly won the southwestern Cologne constituency twice.
What are Hirte’s qualifications?
Heribert Hirte directly won the southwestern Cologne constituency in 2013 with 39.97% of the vote and again in 2017 with 34.89%.
Why is Heribert Hirte running for chairman?
Hirte stated he wants to become chairman because he has demonstrated his ability to win a Bundestag constituency twice. He also mentioned “legal and financial irregularities” but further context on this was not provided.
Where is the election taking place?
The election is scheduled to take place in the Kristallsaal at the Cologne Messe.
When is the election?
The election is scheduled for Saturday.
who is the current interim chairman?
Florian Braun, a state parliament member, has been serving as interim chairman following Karl Mandl’s resignation in March after two years in office.
are there any other candidates?
Yes, as of Friday afternoon, other candidates included businessman Mario Ebel, attorney Hans Günther Kersten, and party member Gundolf Siebeke.
What did Mario Ebel say about his candidacy?
Mario Ebel stated he was “tired of the established party establishment distributing posts among themselves.”
Is Serap Güler the frontrunner?
Yes, despite Hirte’s candidacy, Serap Güler is considered the current frontrunner.
Who was the previous chairman?
Karl Mandl resigned as chairman in March after two years in office.
What other positions are being filled?
The CDU is also seeking 25 additional members for the extended board.
Is there a lot of interest in the extended board positions?
Yes, sources indicate significant interest, with over 40 individuals reportedly vying for these positions.
Summary of the Candidates
| Candidate | Position | Notable Facts |
|——————-|———————————————|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
| Serap Güler | Current Member of Parliament (Bundestag) | CDU’s vice-chairwoman in Cologne since 2014; vying to become the first elected woman to lead the Cologne CDU. |
| Heribert Hirte | Former Member of Parliament | Won the southwestern Cologne constituency twice (2013 and 2017).|
| Mario Ebel | Businessman | Criticized the party establishment. |
| Hans Günther Kersten | Attorney | Declined to comment. |
| Gundolf Siebeke | Party member | No specific information provided in the document. |
