Kohl denies scheme to topple party leader

Germany's former chancellor, Dr Helmut Kohl, has denied he is plotting to topple his successor as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) but insists he has no plans to leave politics.

In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper yesterday, Dr Kohl dismissed as utterly false a report that he is encouraging a former cabinet minister, Mr Jurgen Ruttgers, to challenge Dr Wolfgang Schauble for the leadership at the party's annual conference in April.

"My attitude has not changed in any way. I proposed Wolfgang Schauble as party chairman after my resignation and I support him fully in this difficult position," he said.

The CDU's opinion poll ratings have fallen sharply since prosecutors began a criminal investigation into Dr Kohl's financial dealings during his 16 years in office. The former chancellor has admitted accepting up to u £1 million in secret donations and channelling the money to local party organisations through a network of unofficial accounts.

A CDU strategy meeting near Hamburg at the weekend was overshadowed by rumours that Dr Kohl's supporters are planning to move against Dr Schauble, who has distanced himself from the former chancellor in recent weeks.

Mr Ruttgers dismissed the rumours as "nonsense", but Dr Schauble said he did not rule out the possibility that he may be challenged in April. Dr Kohl is understood to have told friends he believes Mr Ruttgers would be a better party leader.

A leadership challenge could receive the backing of party organisations in four states where the local leadership has openly criticised Dr Schauble's handling of the crisis. With one-third of the delegates at the party conference coming from Mr Ruttgers' home state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the challenger would have a good chance of winning.

Mr Ruttgers has made it clear that he would welcome Dr Kohl's help on the campaign trail in Germany's most populous state, which is governed by a coalition of Social Democrats and Greens but holds a state election in May. The former cabinet minister made an elaborate display of loyalty to his former leader last week, when he rounded angrily on party colleagues who called on Dr Kohl to give up his parliamentary seat while the investigation continues.

Mr Ruttgers' supporters believe that becoming party leader would enhance his chances of winning May's election, which remains too close to call. Many CDU activists, regardless of their feelings towards Dr Kohl, consider Mr Ruttgers has a better chance than Dr Schauble of defeating the Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, at the next federal election in 2002.