Söder and Aiwanger's temporary peace: “No time for skirmishes” - because of the traffic lights?

Created: 01/12/2022, 08:02 AM

From: Christian Deutschländer, Mike Eder

Markus Söder and Hubert Aiwanger have a good laugh: The friction is history for the time being.

© IMAGO / Bavarian State Chancellery

For the first time in months, the Bavarian coalition is acting harmoniously as a contrast to the traffic light.

But how long does the peace last?

Munich - A few days ago, the Bayern Alliance met, sometimes with tears, at a very symbolic place. At the grave of former CSU Prime Minister Max Streibl, his son Florian Streibl, Markus Söder, Hubert Aiwanger and Ilse Aigner gathered the central figures of the coalition of CSU and Free Voters. Much agreement, bowing, shaking hands.

The CSU is thus smoothing out at Streibl's 90th their dealings with one of their ancestors' gallery, keyword amigo affair.

The family visibly moved Söder's speech at the grave - but the impression of the greatest harmony is shaky beyond the private.

Because the meeting also shows how dangerously close the two coalition partners are: similar voters, similar concerns, interwoven staff.

As the 2023 election gets closer, the CSU and FW will fight each other more intensely for votes.

Söder and Aiwanger - CSU and Free Voters: Wave-like dispute has currently subsided

So far, like the CSU-FDP coalition ten years ago, the alliance has been ravaged by waves of disputes.

There was a public dispute about the corona policy and Hubert Aiwanger's skepticism about vaccinations.

At the moment there is more of a peace.

Both parties have moved towards each other.

After Aiwanger's vaccination, the Free Voters sought a more cautious course.

Söder recently changed his line with the decision against stricter rules in taverns ("2G-plus").

It is now the time "for a little more combat group instead of being a competitor," says Fabian Mehring, the FW managing director in the state parliament.

The aim is also to create a bourgeois counter-model to the federal traffic lights in Bavaria.

Free voters: exam postponed due to positive PCR test

On Wednesday (January 12th) the free voters should actually go to the state parliament for a retreat. But on Tuesday evening, Streibl announced: "A PCR test carried out on Tuesday afternoon for a member of parliament and several employees had a positive result." The exam will be postponed until spring. Then, unofficially, there will also be questions of line-up and demeanor.

The free voters today are broader than they were a year or two ago. In addition to Hubert Aiwanger, Mehring and parliamentary group leader Streibl often speak up. Not a coincidence, but an agreement: Aiwanger deliberately withdrew at the turn of the year to let the anger about the vaccination subside. In view of the delta wave, new opening proposals were also not appropriate. “I had to disarm a bit,” admits Aiwanger.

Coalition peace between Söder and Aiwanger: "Must work now"

Will the coalition peace hold?

"We both know that we have to work now," says the Vice Prime Minister when asked about his relationship with Söder.

“There is no time for skirmishes.” But he has not forgotten how Söder made his vaccination status public in front of the cameras in the summer.

Then he was approached throughout the federal election campaign.

“You haven't gotten to grips with other issues at all,” says Aiwanger.

Therefore, one should not rely on the peace to last.

Söder recently emphasized in a New Year's speech that the CSU wanted to take care of "agriculture and medium-sized businesses" - the free voters scored, often thanks to Corona frustration.

The CSU is also considering building up economic and technology politicians against Aiwanger.

CSU with a view to the state election in Bavaria in 2023: who governs with whom?

In the end, it also comes down to the question: Who will be enough to govern in 2023?

There's a lot of movement in it right now.

Söder's love for black and green has grown cold since the traffic lights ruled Berlin.

In current polls, however, his coalition with Aiwanger no longer has a majority.

The FDP is in position.

Aiwanger remains self-confident: "The CSU suddenly sees that they are not doing badly with us."