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Focuses on the resignation of Helmut Kohl as honorary chairman of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Germany. Bundestag's investigation of a financial scandal involving the CDU; Suicide of CDU official Wolfgang Hullen; Kohl's refusal to name the sources of unreported campaign contributions; Impact on the party's election prospects. INSETS: The CDU's recovery will need...;A more convincing polish...;... or perhaps a completely new broom..

Discusses the resignation of former German Chancellor and honorary chairman of the opposition Christian Democratic Union, Helmut Kohl, because of a financial scandal. Suicide of Wolfgang Hullen, the official in charge of finance for the CDU's parliamentary faction; Charges against Kohl for using cash from unreported campaign contributions. INSET: ...and raised a cry for new leadership, by Ursula Sautter.

Focuses on Angela Merkel, leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which leads Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's Social Democratic Party (SDP) by 14 points in the election campaign. Observation that a large number of Germans do not know who they will vote for on Sept. 18, 2005; Mistakes made by Merkel's campaign in the first few weeks of campaigning; Criticism of Merkel's campaign by Michael Spreng, who managed CSU party chairman Edmund Stoiber's failed attempt to topple Schröder.

Reports on the political funding scandal in Germany's Christian Democratic Union. Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl's confession to having kept secret bank accounts; Chancellor Wolfgang Shauble's admission that he received a cash contribution from an arms dealer; The problems in the German government.

Reports on the nomination of Angela Merkel to be the next chairperson of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's scandal-plagued opposition party. Scandals which have plagued the CDU, including the admission from former Chancellor Helmut Kohl to operating an illegal slush fund to aid CDU candidates; Merkel's political shrewdness; Background information on Merkel; Inexperience which raises doubts that she will be the party's candidate for Chancellor.