Unity among the CDU and CSU: Merz wants the chancellor candidate to be chosen earlier
Created: 04/01/2023 17:47
By: Mike Schier
Unusual unity: Söder and Merz pull together.
(Archive image) © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
The dispute over the last candidate for chancellor has occupied the CDU and CSU for a long time.
Next time everything should be different - above all more harmonious.
In a double interview with Münchner Merkur, Markus Söder (CSU) makes it clear that this time Friedrich Merz has the right of first access.
Munich – The CSU chairman Markus Söder wants to give priority to Friedrich Merz (CDU) when it comes to the question of the next candidate for chancellor.
"From my point of view, the matter is clear: the party leader of the CDU has a clear claim to leadership within the CDU.
The CDU, in turn, normally has priority over the CSU," said Söder in a double interview that he and Merz gave to the Münchner Merkur (published on Thursday, January 5).
“Personally, I definitely have no more ambitions.
The topic of candidacy for chancellor is done for me, ”said Söder.
"In the life of a member of the CSU, this happens at most once - that's how it was with Strauss, Stoiber and me - but not a second time." His job is Prime Minister in Bavaria, that's what he's passionate about.
Merz wants earlier choice of chancellor candidate
The final decision on the candidacy should be made early next time.
"You need a year for the good preparation of a federal election," said Friedrich Merz in the conversation.
"Let's assume that the election will take place regularly in autumn 2025 - which is more uncertain than ever with this traffic light - then that would mean: We have to make a decision by early autumn 2024 at the latest," the CDU leader continued.
Because of the schedule, he also “became a bit unfriendly within the CDU in autumn 2020”.
It is important that the two party leaders of the CDU and CSU pull together, emphasized Söder.
“If the chairmen do not agree, the matter is doomed from the start.
That was already the case in the 1970s when Franz Josef Strauss fought against Ernst Albrecht," said the Bavarian Prime Minister.
“That means we have to come to an understanding.
Only unity leads to success.”
Söder on Merz as party leader: "Working with him is by far the best"
At the beginning of 2021, there were heated arguments between the CDU and CSU over the chancellor candidacy, which Armin Laschet finally took over against Söder's will.
After his election defeat, Merz took over the CDU presidency.
Söder and Merz emphasized
their good relationship in the
Merkur interview.
.
"Friedrich is already my third party leader of the CDU - and working with him is by far the best," said Söder.
“The basic advantage is that there is simply a much higher level of commonality in the political substance.
We are both very bourgeois politicians.
That helped when we both found each other after the difficult year 2021.”
Merz emphasized the regular consultation: "We're both similar there: we text each other relatively briefly and without frills.
If it's necessary, we'll call on Sunday evening.
Either way, there is a so-called Union situation every Monday morning at 8 a.m., in which we vote for the coming week in a small group.” Both praised the Berlin CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt.
The complete interview is available from 8 p.m. in the e-paper of the Münchner Merkur.
