The CSU and Friedrich Merz: All eyes on Bavaria
Created: 12/21/2021, 07:23 AM
From: Mike Schier
Commentator Mike Schier (r.) Writes about the CDU and Friedrich Merz.
© Michael Kappeler / dpa / Marcus sleep
After the election of Friedrich Merz as the new CDU chairman, all eyes are on the relationship between him and Markus Söder, comments Mike Schier.
The CDU is getting a new chairman - and all eyes are already on the future relationship between Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder.
Who is claiming opposition leadership for themselves?
Who could challenge Olaf Scholz as the next candidate for Chancellor?
It can be assumed that Söder himself is also very much concerned with these questions.
And yet it would be a mistake if he based his policy on them in the future.
Söder has announced that he wants to think conceptually between the years.
This is urgently needed, because so far the CSU boss has not drawn any conclusions from the again devastating election result.
Instead, the old captain of the “Team Caution” returned to the media stage with the fourth Corona wave.
However, the pandemic-weary people no longer want to break out into storms of applause.
As of now, Söder has to hope that the (very north German) traffic light in Berlin will make the worst possible mistakes and drive the Bavarian voters back into his arms.
Prime Minister Markus Söder needs a plan
But: This is not a sure recipe for success for the state elections in 2023.
The Prime Minister needs a plan of where he wants to lead the Free State with its (luxury) problems: the overpriced housing market, the associated shortage of skilled workers, including in social professions, the transport infrastructure.
And he has to clarify which team he is tackling this with.
The current cabinet is far too pale, and there are hardly any creative minds even from the second row.
The CSU had been frozen in awe of its chairman for far too long.
That needs to change.
Also for Söder's own ambitions: If he doesn't turn things around in Bavaria, a candidate for chancellor in 2025 is out of the question.
Traffic lights before big tasks - you can find out what the SPD, Greens and FDP are planning in our politics newsletter.
