CSU party conference: Söder can not resist a swipe against Kurz - criticism of Corona demos

For the first time, the CSU is trying a virtual party conference. Among other things, they are calling for tax cuts. Sebastian Kurz was also there.

• The CSU is holding its Small Party Congress on Friday (May 22) - for the first time purely virtual because of the corona pandemic.
• Party leader Markus Söder  and also Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz gave speeches.
• We will keep you up to date in the evening in this news ticker.

Update 6:51 p.m .:  Briefly speaks in favor of  Corona emergency aid , but does not want a "debt union through the back door". European aid can only take place for a limited period. Prime Minister Söder thanks his guest, but is unable to resist a swipe at the Tyrolean neighbors: "I would hope that we can handle block handling and roadblocks."

In the confusion of the digital conversation, Kurz doesn't go into that. "I just wanted to add that we are happy that the border is falling again. We have to boost our economy again, ”Kurz says instead.

Update 18.32: The Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz also takes part in the CSU party conference. He sees good cooperation between Austria, Bavaria and Germany: “Personally, I am very happy that we can completely shut down the borders again on June 15th. This is important for our human and economic exchange. "

CSU party conference on the Internet: Söder violently criticizes Greens and demonstrators - demand for debt limit

Update 5:56 pm: In his opinion, the federal government should only be allowed to take up a maximum of 100 billion euros in additional debts this year . For the first time, the Bavarian Prime Minister supported the CSU's demand for an upper limit for German government debt with a concrete sum.

Update 17:47: CSU chief Markus Söder seen important successes in the fight against the coronavirus , but warns against carelessness. The worst had been overcome for the time being, Söder said on Friday evening in his speech at the first Internet party conference in CSU history. "We got through quite well." The past few weeks had been an incredible test for the health system, for politics and for the population.

CSU party congress online: Söder violently criticizes Greens and demonstrators

Update 5:35 pm:  The discussions about lately have "irritated" him. "A Green politician said recently. Oh, over 80, what's all this about, ”says the Prime Minister about Boris Palmer . “Do we really want to have a society in which we dispose of lives from a certain age? Not me. ”That was compatible with the guidelines of his party. He also criticizes the demonstrators . Anyone could demonstrate, but when certain groups use demonstrations "to make a new Pegida movement, it quickly exposes itself as shabby." 

Update 5:31 pm: Söder warns again that the corona crisis is not over yet: “I understand that Corona is annoying, that it is stressful. But as long as we don't have a vaccine or medication, Corona remains an existential threat. ”

Update 5:25 pm: In his speech at the CSU party conference, Markus Söder once again emphasizes the urgency and importance of the corona measures taken . Otherwise the numbers would not have developed so positively.

Update 17:22: The CSU chairman Markus Söder wants to use his party's first Internet party conference as an important position in the Corona crisis . This was necessary before other important decisions, including in Berlin, said Söder on Friday at the beginning of the party congress. "It's something special, a virtual party conference," he said. It is also an experiment. But it shows that the CSU is there for people even in difficult times.

CSU party conference online: Söder expects "sensational insights" - Twitter advertising causes ridicule

Update 3.45 p.m .:  Before the CSU party conference, party leader Markus Söder from the Union received approval for the proposal for a debt ceiling - in the person of Minister of Economy Peter Altmaier (CDU). "We have to handle citizens' tax money carefully and sparingly," he told dpa on Friday. Altmaier demanded that the federal government's planned economic stimulus program "be clearly limited in terms of amount, scope and duration". Almost at the same time,
costly coupon plans by Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) became known.

The Bavarian FDP was more critical . She accused Söder of having completely lost sight of the goal of a debt-free Free State. If he now demands a debt ceiling, he will make himself unbelievable, said Vice Chairman Karsten Klein . "Unfortunately, the CSU has lost all shine when it comes to debt repayment."

CSU party conference on the Internet: Twitter advertising causes ridicule - "Which series?"

Update 3:25 p.m .: The first virtual CSU party congress should start in a good hour and a half - the party’s online advertising in particular ensures the date for tender ridicule. Stumbling block is a banner spread on Twitter, from which the protagonists of the evening look at the user: digital minister Dorothee Bär , general secretary Markus Blume , party leader Markus Söder and Austria's chancellor - and CSU guest speaker - Sebastian Kurz .

"What series?" Asked taz parliamentary editor Anja Maier coolly in a tweet, probably referring to the somewhat noisy design and the line "Today from 5pm". CDU veteran Ruprecht Polenz apparently targeted the sister party’s quota for women - but possibly only the more reserved and friendly facial expressions of the male “models”: “If the CSU did not have Doro Bär ...”, he wrote.

If the CSU didn't have Doro Bär ... https://t.co/q7w3Rd6PQC

Update 12.30 p.m .: Horst Seehofer has shaped CSU party days for many years - among other things as party leader. Shortly before the first virtual CSU party meeting, he has now announced a hard cut: a very abrupt departure from politics.

Preview - CSU party conference on the Internet: Söder expects "sensational insights" - but remains guilty of an info

Munich - The CSU is experiencing a novelty on Friday: For the first time, the party is holding a party conference virtually . The highlight should nevertheless be a speech by party leader Markus Söder . However, he is not speaking in front of a well-filled hall - but in a camera in his office on the top floor of the Munich party headquarters. Scheduled to be connected also Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP). Another is missing: CDU boss Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer .

CSU party congress online: tax cuts demanded - "No time for left-wing fantasies"

In terms of content, of course, the focus should be on the corona pandemic . In a lead motion , the authors provide a number of proposals to deal with the crisis. Called about tax cuts that will help to stimulate the economy. "Make Germany strong - learn from Corona and grow" is the motto from the CSU party leadership.

As a relief program for Germany, the CSU specifically requests a reduction in corporate tax , improved depreciation options for investments and expanded loss offsetting options. "There is now no place for anti-business fantasies of left ideologues," the paper says - "and it is not the time for tax increases either."

CSU party conference: Söder calls for an "upper limit" for Corona aid - open funding of your own ideas

In addition, the CSU wants to consider the topic of jobs : "In addition to the successful short-time model * to preserve millions of existing jobs, we also want to provide incentives for the creation of new jobs. In addition, we want to raise the earnings limit in the mini-job area to 600 euros per month and permanently link it to wage developments. ”

The CSU also wants to renegotiate the abolition of the solidarity surcharge with the CDU and SPD . In contrast to Söder's earlier statements, the application does not name the complete or rapid abolition as a clear goal.

However , the application leaves open how much money the ten packages of measures mentioned should cost or how they can be financed. An interesting fact - also in view of the fact that Söder called for an "upper limit" for Corona aid packages in the ZDF "Morgenmagazin" on Friday  . The state should "not just distribute money". He also excluded Corona Bonds * again.

Virtual CSU party congress: Söder's proposal causes upset in the Union

During a small media tour before the party congress on Friday morning, Söder was not only seen on ZDF, but also on the radio station Bayern2. Söder's statements were largely the same. In an interview with Merkur * in Munich, also published on Friday, Söder also commented on the subject of corona vaccination.

However, the proposals certainly caused debate and explosives. In an interview with the BR, for example, Söder spoke in favor of tourism vouchers with a view to vacation opportunities in Germany * . "There is tax deductibility and there is the direct one. This could also include, for example, making travel significantly cheaper, ie giving train vouchers, giving public transport vouchers," he emphasized.

Another country head from the ranks of the Union had already reacted to this mental game with rejection. The situation in the Corona crisis was "so serious and sensitive that we should concentrate on the absolutely necessary things," said Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) to the newspapers of the Funke media group. Holiday vouchers were not among these priorities. For his part, Kretschmer delivered another little bang - in the form of a specific date for the return to regular schooling in Saxony.

CSU tries party congress online: Söder expects "insights" - this is the schedule

It also remains to be seen how confidently the CSU will deal with the challenges of the virtual major meeting . 250 delegates should be there, the number of spectators could be much higher. The Greens - who were the first Bundestag party to try the concept - saw some bizarre scenes. 

Söder commented on this in BR "without malice", as he emphasized. These are difficulties that can arise when using new instruments. He also expected exciting "insights" on Friday evening: "At these video conferences, you can see sensational insights into the living room and offices, what is standing and lying there."

The start of the Internet party conference is on Friday at 5 p.m. Markus Söder should speak at 5.20 p.m., shortly at 6.30 p.m. We will then keep you up to date in the news ticker . Streaming is also available.

fn / AFP / dpa

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network .