"Political near-death experience": Söder biography gives an insight into dark CSU hours - and raises controversial K-questions

Not so long ago, Markus Söder was not a pandemic hero - he was on the political precipice.

An updated biography gives insights.

And raises sensitive questions.

Munich - Has

really changed everything, as it can sometimes be read?

Viewed objectively, question marks are allowed.

But for one, the thesis could well be true:

catapulted the pandemic into new spheres.

In a sense, as “Bavaria One”, the

at least in a media orbit around the

- as perhaps the most important Corona protagonist alongside the Chancellor.

And as an alleged or alleged candidate for her successor.

These are breathless times, not only, but also for Söder.

Sometimes a deeper look is revealing.

As early as 2018 had the

and

an (unauthorized)

.

At that time, among other things, illuminating things could be learned about the difficult history of Söders with his predecessor Horst Seehofer - hard to believe: At that time Seehofer was CSU chief for almost a year.

Now there is an updated

.

The title:

(Droemer Knaur, 18 euros).

In addition to an overview of the politically wild ride of the (Söder) CSU through the past three years and little glimpses behind the scenes of Söder's work as Prime Minister, it brings up particularly explosive questions regarding the suitability of

in Central Franconia.

And, at the very end, provides the answer as to whether Söder wants to become Chancellor at all - if he already knows ...

Markus Söder: CSU boss reports of "political near-death experience" - starting signal for a change?

In

any case, the

book by the two authors of the

throws a (re) illuminating spotlight on a fact that has almost been forgotten by Corona:

did not start as a star in the State Chancellery in March 2018 - but as a newcomer in trouble.

The

paralyzed, the

embarked on a cuddle course with the AfD

, which was

irritating for many.

Söder countered it late and suddenly.

Also in the destructive asylum dispute between the CSU and the Chancellor, the Prime Minister acted ambivalently for a long time.

When did this change of heart occur at @Markus_Soeder and who triggered it?

Signal: On March 6th, he appeared at the Anti- @ AfD demo in # Munich on @world to #Schattenkanzler pic.twitter.com/nKKP6VKqPU

- Hubert Jakob Denk (@mediendenk) October 2, 2020

It was probably a turning point at the last second - as

himself admits.

“It was a near-death political experience for me.

The probability was not small that I could become the prime minister with the shortest term of office, ”Söder tells the authors himself.

And practice

.

“In this election campaign I learned that Bavaria has fundamentally changed.

We weren't in the middle of society everywhere. ”At the time, however, that obviously had to show up on Munich's streets first.

Meanwhile, the CSU itself likes to remind you of its change.

Söder and the greened CSU: The moment when the Prime Minister put down the smartphone

It is also clearly prepared: Many of the current Söder brand essence were only added in the course of the past two years - a "near death experience" is said to have changed people many times.

There would be the

supporting

- the offensive greening of the CSU after the bee referendum.

In an interview with Deininger and Ritzer, an “experienced CSU man” came to a clear conclusion: In a figurative sense, Söder had “a new suit” tailored for each office.

Sometimes even for every general political weather situation.

However, this does not only apply to the past few years.

The book on

provides an amusing anecdote

.

CSU * experts dated the moment of Söder's rethinking at a meeting of the party's “Environment Working Group” in January 2019, they say.

"According to reports, he looked well entertained - by the things he was doing on his cell phone while the environmental politicians of his party were talking about climate protection and the upcoming referendum 'Save the bees'".

Then the deserved

addressed the word to Söder: “'You have to be clear about one thing ...' Söder, participants testify, put the cell phone aside,” write Deininger and Ritzer.

+

Descriptive title?

“The Shadow Chancellor” is the name of an updated biography of Markus Söders.

© Droemer / Knaur

It is precisely this changeability in terms of content that the two of them make a main question in the

.

“The CSU is a reflection of Bavaria.

If Bavaria changes, the CSU also has to change, «they recall a telling Söder quote.

The CSU must always “accept” the “majority will” of the population, Söder * also once noted in 2019.

"If you consider that in the history of mankind also majorities have come up with stupid ideas, that's a blatant sentence," say Deininger and Ritzer.

Söder and the Greens: Schulze teases - "Shouldn't a politician have a few convictions?"

Interestingly

, the main

witnesses of this concern are mainly

- representatives of the party that Söder has long identified as its main competitor.

And which, purely hypothetically, would be a

.

Bavaria's

for example, rates Söder's actions in environmental protection as “not determined enough” and rather “volatile”.

“Shouldn't a politician have a few beliefs?

What were the two or three subjects that made him join the Junge Union many years ago? "

Can Söder become Chancellor?

Özdemir raises concerns in biography

Schulze also takes a tough

stand with Söder's

.

“What I find disturbing: What would have happened if Söder's right-wing election campaign had gotten stuck?

Would he have continued like this?

I doubt that he would then hug trees today. ”It was just a“ cool consideration ”.

Schulze's party

meanwhile, expresses minor doubts about Söder's general suitability for chancellor.

"There would certainly be doubts as to whether a CSU candidate like Söder can really get the country together," he said in an interview with the authors.

“CSU candidates are always well suited to counter-mobilization.

That would probably be the opposite of Merkel's lulling election campaign. "

Does Söder want to become Chancellor?

"Yes, absolutely!" - but it is followed by a "but"

And does Söder want to become Chancellor instead of Chancellor?

"Of course that flatters him", says a "companion" of the CSU grande the book author with a view to the

, "that works in him now".

The source is also certain: “Yes, absolutely!” Söder wanted to become Chancellor.

Only if he dares to argue about the candidacy, she is not so sure.

So it stays that way: the next biography update in two and a half years could also have unexpected volts on the subject.

In view of the accusation of too great

and the associated doubts about

Söder's

, Deininger and Ritzer have noted a crisp counter-question from “the Söder camp”: “Has Angela Merkel * not governed this country for 15 years amazing flexibility? ”(

) *