Horst Seehofer has been a defining figure in Bavaria and in German politics for years - now he has announced a tough cut.
- Horst Seehofer wants to turn his back on politics after 50 years.
- The Federal Minister of the Interior announced a tough cut in an interview.
- The former CSU chief once again had praise for Chancellor Merkel's course in the Corona crisis.
Update from May 24, 2020: Only on Friday did Interior Minister Horst Seehofer announce a hard cut for the time after his political career (see below) - now the chances have risen sharply that the ex-CSU boss actually only at the end of the Legislature period must withdraw into private life .
Because his successor Markus Söder apparently wants to forego an originally planned CSU castling in the federal cabinet in view of the Corona crisis - at least that's what the picture on Sunday shortly after the CSU party congress had learned. "The question of a cabinet reshuffle does not arise in the midst of the Corona crisis. The Federal Government is currently of the highest standing and the CSU ministers are doing a very good job," according to the newspaper's party leaders, the Christian Socialists.
At the beginning of January, Söder had asked for Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) government ministers to be replaced and the cabinet to be rejuvenated for the second half of the parliamentary term . In addition to Development Minister Gerd Müller (64) , a rejuvenation could have hit 70-year-old Seehofer in particular. Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer is also controversial because of the failed toll.
Bundestag elections are scheduled to take place by October 2021 at the latest. Seehofer had recently declared that he wanted to quit politics "after the next election".
Farewell to politics: Seehofer announces clear cut - "You will me ..."
Horst Seehofer wants to turn his back on politics after the current legislature.
© dpa / Gregor Fischer
First announcement: Berlin - Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU) wants to get out of politics entirely after the end of the legislative period . After the next federal election, he began a "total contrast program to what I've been doing for 50 years," the 70-year-old told Spiegel in a post published on Friday. He would then be an "apolitical person". "You won't find me on any board."
As Minister , Horst Seehofer was part of several federal governments , in which he led the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. He also had political responsibility in his home country of Bavaria . From 2008 to 2018 he was Bavarian Prime Minister . He retained the party chairmanship of the CSU from 2008 to 2019.
Horst Seehofer announces withdrawal: "You will not be able to lure me with current politics"
"They won't be able to lure me into current politics, even if it annoys me so much," added the CSU politician. For Chancellor Angela Merkel's (CDU) crisis policy in the corona pandemic, Seehofer once again found words of praise: "That was exactly the right strategy." Germany now has a "long, long working route" to overcome the Corona crisis. "And there we need the Chancellor."
So far, the country has come through the crisis well, Seehofer said. "All of this gives me the confidence that we can push the virus further back and maybe even overcome it."
Seehofer criticizes the Leyens EU Commission: "I can take care ..."
In the current interview, Seehofer's verdict on the EU Commission was less positive - although it has been led by CDU politician Ursula von der Leyen for several months . I had high hopes for the new EU Commission, ”said Seehofer. "Today I am disappointed to say the least."
“I can take care of the sea rescue and the children in the refugee camps in Greece. I can strive for a common asylum policy, ”said Seehofer. "But these are all tasks of the EU." Even in the recent push for a European investment program, it was not Brussels that was the engine, but Berlin and Paris, said Seehofer, according to Spiegel .
Seehofer's political career began more than 50 years ago
The end of the legislative period, which is now also to mark the end of Seehofer's career as a politician, has been reached with the next federal election, which will take place on October 24, 2021 at the latest. His political career began in 1969 when he joined the Junge Union . 1980 Horst Seehofer was first in the German Bundestag elected
Meanwhile, Seehofers CSU wants to hold its first virtual party conference on Friday.
AFP / dpa / fn
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Peter Kneffel
