At the announcement, viewers were promised a unique behind-the-scenes look at the 'largest people's party in Europe.' It certainly became unique, but it is questionable whether Chancellor Merz's CDU looks back on the series Inside CDU with satisfaction. The new documentary series is met with criticism and ridicule in Germany.
The series by broadcaster ZDF follows CDU leaders during the campaigns for the recent state elections. What was supposed to be a successful political year turned into a series of defeats and internal unrest. The conservative CDU achieved historically poor results, while the right-wing radical AfD scored landslide victories.
Viewers see a succession of missteps: a prime minister candidate who spoke too eagerly about a young girl, the resignation of parliamentary leader Spahn due to circumventing his own laws, the resignation of the Berlin mayor after a series of lies, a messy cabinet reshuffle. With this headwind, the campaign in the Superwahljahr proceeds with difficulty.
In the documentary series, these stories are told through several main characters, who belong to Merz's greatest loyalists. Their confidence in the party is great; all the greater is the sorrow when the CDU loses another election.
Strandstoel
However, viewers feel most sympathy for local CDU members who appear on screen. A candidate handing out fish sandwiches ('the middle is best') is showered with insults by passersby. It is shown how campaigners desperately try to explain that they are different from the politicians at the top.
The contrast is great with the CDU prominents, who comment on the rise of the AfD from a ride in the official car, dressed sharply in suits. Viewers and commentators criticize the 'arrogance' and 'world-alienated' attitude that seems to emanate from this.
A symbol of this is a scene in which the newly appointed minister Philipp Amthor has a beach chair placed on the balcony of his office. 'For the unlikely case that I use it to relax for a moment,' can be heard. After accusations of decadence, Amthor has since had the chair removed.
"The CDU simply cannot do anything right anymore," summarizes commentator Anna Mayr of Die Zeit the outraged reactions. "When the top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt lets his wife choose the campaign posters, it is embarrassing and unprofessional. If the CDU is 'professional' with Amthor in a sharp suit, then it is again embarrassing and arrogant."
Transparency
The form of the documentary — an open look inside — is unusual by German standards. The current series follows a first season last year. Then Merz was followed during his campaign and appointment as chancellor. Even then there was mockery, for example because of the 'disco break' at the party office on Friday morning, but the prevailing image was a confident party on its way to election victory.
With the same openness, the party now shows itself in a more difficult campaign battle. The documentary transparently shows the daily reality of politics. For example, viewers see how social media videos of politicians are pre-chewed by a team and how the CDU leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze, tries to avoid his AfD opponent in a TV studio.
More painful is when Schulze discovers that only one person from his social media team actually comes from Saxony-Anhalt. Or when one of the main characters loses her position as sports minister and has to justify it herself. Or when CDU leader Linnemann receives harsh criticism from a visitor on a stage full of voters, who receives loud applause for it.
Swan song
The judgments are harsh. Political commentators speak of a "gloomy self-portrait" of a "self-damaging" and "world-alienated" party. "It shows that the situation at the CDU is much more serious than thought," judges the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung speaks of a swan song, the final act of a dying party. "In the worst case a timelapse of a rotting apple," according to Der Spiegel.
The party itself hardly comments on the outcome of the docuseries. The CDU state premier of Schleswig-Holstein subtly stated today that the party should focus more on solving problems and less on documentaries. A third season thus seems unlikely. The entire series is available to watch online.