Söder now CSU boss on probation - a new balance of power is a reality

Created: 03/08/2022, 09:25

By: Christian Deutschländer

As a result of the war in Ukraine, a new power structure could develop in the CSU, comments Christian Deutschländer (right).

© Sven Hoppe/dpa/Marcus sleep

The events of the past few months have made the CSU a little tired of Söder.

Meanwhile, Manfred Weber is developing into a formative figure, comments Christian Deutschländer.

Munich – From time to time, when a pro-Europe Sunday speech was to be held, the CSU remembered that it still had the anti-Söder in Brussels: Manfred Weber, more and more thinker than market crier, always worldly and sometimes a bit boring .

Weber then shone and disappeared again obediently.

And now?

The war in Europe fundamentally changes the demands on politicians.

The quieter, level-headed, serious, networked are in demand.

In the CSU, which has allowed foreign and defense policy to wither away in terms of content and personnel for over a decade, there is not much choice.

There is no doubt: Weber is developing into an influential, stabilizing figure.

CSU: New dual leadership in public perception - Weber is developing into a formative figure

This is not yet a revolution in the CSU, not a break, but a shift.

Prime Minister Söder is strong when his goals are congruent with those of the vast majority of the country.

That was the case for a long time with the hard, correct Corona course.

Not anymore, however, when his popularity culminated in an I-project for a chancellor candidacy (and first he, and later the whole Union, failed miserably).

The CSU has become a bit tired of this confusion and unfortunately also the heavy corona burden.

The boss is on probation, and he has not yet succeeded in reinventing himself as the father of the country.

A weak state election in 2023 would be the end of it.

In any case, it's not as if he would graciously assign his Vice Weber the presidency of the EPP, even as a venue.

There is a new balance of power: never on paper, but in public perception the CSU has been developing a dual leadership since this spring.

Christian Deutschlaender