The top of the CSU failed in trying to convince the Muslim entrepreneur Sener Sahin to run for mayor in Wallerstein (district of Donau-Ries) in Bavaria. Secretary General Markus Blume therefore called the 44-year-old on the phone, the CSU press office said. Sahin himself confirmed to the dpa news agency that he was no longer running. The "Augsburger Allgemeine" had previously reported.
A few days ago, Sahin had withdrawn his willingness to run for the CSU as councilor in the municipal election on March 15. His application had previously been criticized by the Christian Socialists for his religion. Party leader Markus Söder regretted Sahin's decision and wants to have the process worked up.
"Tried everything"
The entrepreneur told the "Augsburger Allgemeine" that Blume had offered to "come personally to the nomination meeting in order to dismantle the prejudices at the Wallersteiner CSU base". Secretary General Blume himself told the newspaper: "We would have thought Mr. Sahin to be a very, very good candidate." The party leadership "really tried everything to win him over and rethink his decision".
The 44-year-old had previously said in an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" that he was only expecting Muslim mayors in rural regions of Bavaria in decades.