Markus Söder started thinking about the turn of the year.
Result: He wants to change course on many points.
There are several major construction sites waiting for the head of the 36 percent CSU, comments Merkur editor-in-chief Georg Anastasiadis.
Markus Söder said in a memorable interview in our newspaper these days that he had "thought a lot" about the turn of the year.
One is not too angry when one realizes: That was also necessary.
The power in Berlin - lost after an indisputable union dispute.
Many voters – scared off with a corona course that was too authoritative and obviously also based on self-portrayal.
The CSU members – driven in rows to leave the party.
Anyone who doesn't think about it is a fool.
And Söder really doesn't belong in this category.
Söder wants to take the everyday concerns of its citizens into account
The CSU boss has drawn his conclusions: he now wants to take a “broader approach” to corona policy and no longer just listen to the virologists. He makes his peace with the new CDU leader Merz and thus the conservatives an offer. And he wants to change from being a national political speaker to a Bavarian caretaker who takes a look at the everyday concerns of his citizens, such as the galloping prices. All of these are correct conclusions from a year 2021, which the CSU boss now rightly says should not be repeated.
The largest construction sites remain in Upper and Lower Bavaria. Here the people are often more freedom-loving and more resistant than in the rest of the Free State, which unfortunately can also be seen from the poorer vaccination rates. Here many strangers with the command tone from the state chancellery. It will take a lot of persuasion to get the innkeepers, the medium-sized companies that have often been hit by Corona, and the self-employed to get them excited about the CSU. The 36 percent that BR measured in its January survey for the CSU is Söder's opening balance. Worse than in the 2018 state elections, but better than secretly feared. This can be built on, especially since there is no real challenger among the political rivals in Bavaria. From now on, the Franconian and his CSU can no longer go any deeper, otherwise things will get very restless in the party.Söder can no longer allow himself new mistakes or a relapse into old impulsive behavior patterns.
