> Laschet who was prefered by the establishment was vastly less popular overall than Söder. Laschet is now their candidate
I too was quite baffled when they went with Laschet. I've since heard the theory that the CDU leadership was worried that Söder would transform the Union party into an ego show like Christian Kurz did with the Austrian conservatives, or like Christian Lindner did with the German liberals. If they genuinely believe that threat to be worth taking serious, I can see why they would prefer Laschet. A one-man party is fine as long as the leader is going strong, but falls apart quickly when they disappear.
I too was quite baffled when they went with Laschet. I've since heard the theory that the CDU leadership was worried that Söder would transform the Union party into an ego show like Christian Kurz did with the Austrian conservatives, or like Christian Lindner did with the German liberals. If they genuinely believe that threat to be worth taking serious, I can see why they would prefer Laschet. A one-man party is fine as long as the leader is going strong, but falls apart quickly when they disappear.