In light of the CDU's electoral defeat in Baden-Württemberg, party leaders, including Jens Spahn, have attributed their loss to a so-called smear campaign against their candidate, Manuel Hagel. This accusation was sparked by the re-emergence of an eight-year-old video of Hagel shortly before the election, which some party members argued negatively influenced public opinion. Such statements from the party suggest an unwillingness to accept responsibility for the defeat, instead blaming external factors as the root cause.

Vivien Götz, in her commentary, critiques this narrative as reflecting a reversal of accountability by CDU leaders. According to her, the focus should not be on disparaging the resurfaced video, but rather on reflecting on the shortcomings of their candidate and campaign. The implication is that instead of engaging with the concerns raised by the video, poor performance should prompt substantive self-reflection within the party.

This situation highlights a broader issue within political discourse where parties, particularly those facing defeats, often seek to externalize blame. Götz argues that such a defensive posture is counterproductive and diverts attention from the responsibilities that leaders hold in the face of electoral challenges. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the CDU reconciles this perspective as they prepare for future elections.