CDU leadership contest narrows into east-west ideological divide

The contest to become leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) has narrowed into a duel between the former Defence Minister, Mr Volker Ruhe, and the party's general secretary, Dr Angela Merkel, that is setting the prosperous west against the struggling east, conservatives against liberals and men against women.

Mr Ruhe is hoping that a reasonable performance on Sunday in a state election in Schleswig-Holstein, where he is the CDU candidate for prime minister, will provide a launching pad for his attempt to become party leader. "It would be a great success if we stabilise and gain a little. Then I can put in a strong word in the CDU and fulfil an important function," he said.

A week after the resignation of Dr Wolfgang Schauble as party leader, the CDU is dividing along geographical and ideological lines with western conservatives backing Mr Ruhe while easterners and modernisers support Dr Merkel.

Until the scandal over illegal funding engulfed the CDU late last year, Mr Ruhe looked likely to defeat Schleswig-Holstein's governing coalition of Social Democrats and Greens.

A poor showing by the Greens could still propel the CDU into government but most polls predict that the ruling coalition will survive.

Mr Ruhe yesterday ruled out becoming leader of the opposition in Schleswig-Holstein, making it clear that his sights are already set on a return to federal politics.

Mr Ruhe, who was general secretary of the CDU from 1989 until 1992, attempted yesterday to distance himself from his former patron, Dr Helmut Kohl, and to suggest that Dr Merkel, who served as a deputy chairwoman of the party from 1991 to 1998, was closer to the former chancellor.

"There is a difference between someone like me who was the party's general secretary for two years and someone like Ms Merkel who was Kohl's deputy for eight years. She was closer to Kohl's system," he said.

Mr Ruhe's claim might be more plausible but for the fact that Dr Kohl's allies are so openly opposed to Dr Merkel.

The CDU's Bavarian allies in the Christian Social Union are also determined to keep Dr Merkel out of the leadership because they believe she is a liberal with dangerously progressive views on family issues.

Dr Merkel last year proposed a new policy for the CDU that would recognise the rights of unmarried couples, single parents and gay partnerships as well as those of married couples.