 Tilman Meyer, a political scientist at University of Bonn, told "Focus" that the mounting pressure on Kramp-Karrenbauer could lead to the CDU going into the next election with a more conservative candidate such as Friedrich Merz, a former CDU parliamentary leader, in response to the rise of the far-right.Kramp-Karrenbauer announced her resignation as leader of the CDU on 10 February 2020.She will remain in post until a successor is elected in summer.