In an interview with dpa, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer pointed to the annual party conference scheduled for early December in the southern city of Stuttgart.

“My impression is that the further we go beyond the summer break for a possible special party conference, the less is the need for a party conference that takes place just a few weeks before the regular one,” she said.

Party officials do not think that the special conference can be held before the start of the summer break in early July because of restrictions on large events that Germany has instituted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kramp-Karrenbauer announced her surprise resignation in February. The CDU had initially planned a special conference on April 25 to replace her, but called it off due to the coronavirus.

The new leader will likely succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel as the CDU’s next candidate for the post in national elections set for 2021.

The best-placed candidates are believed to be North Rhine Westphalia state premier Armin Laschet, former CDU parliamentary leader Friedrich Merz and Norbert Roettgen, a former minister who chairs the parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

But Kramp-Karrenbauer noted that the CDU’s leadership issue is of little interest right now given the coronavirus threat.

Preparations for the regularly scheduled party conference in December are under way, she said, expressing hope that it can be held. This is not yet guaranteed as it is unclear how long the ban on large events will remain in place.