As of: February 18, 2024, 7:07 p.m
By: Florian Naumann
Comments
Press
Split
For the CSU, the fun begins after carnival: Söder's “plain text” is expected at Political Ash Wednesday.
But there could also be serious tones.
Political Ash Wednesday
in
Lower Bavaria
: The CSU is expecting thousands of supporters in Passau
Söder
warns against the
AfD
: “They would put us in prison” – CSU boss is thinking about conscription
“If you don’t want us as
Bavaria
…”: Söder threatens to leave the Federal Republic of Germany on Ash Wednesday
In this news ticker we accompany the CSU's political Ash Wednesday for you.
We will keep you up to date on the Ash Wednesday dates of the other major parties here.
Update from February 14th, 8:46 p.m.:
After a lot of criticism from Bavaria, CDU leader Friedrich Merz defended his openness to a coalition with the Greens.
“We will do a damn thing to close off all options and thus take away any room for maneuver,” said Merz at the CDU Thuringia’s political Ash Wednesday in Apolda.
In Hesse, Prime Minister Boris Rhein was only able to get major concessions from the SPD because he had two partners to negotiate with.
“We have to become so strong in the next federal election that we cannot govern without us or against us,” he continued.
Then three options remained.
He prefers the FDP.
If the FDP was not there, then the SPD and the Greens would still remain, he explained to the members of the Thuringian regional association to boos.
Political Ash Wednesday ended at the CSU: Free voters remain calm
Update from February 14th, 4:23 p.m.:
Markus Söder sent a few tips to his coalition partner Free Voters at the CSU's political Ash Wednesday.
The little surprise: Aiwanger in Deggendorf didn't just stay quiet.
He almost punished Söder by ignoring him, as
Merkur
correspondent Christian Deutschländer noted.
Update from February 14th, 12:55 p.m.:
Political Ash Wednesday 2024 is over - at least at the CSU.
The guests still traditionally stand up for the Bavarian, national and European anthems.
The previous three hours were characterized by very different rhetorical focuses:
CSU leader Markus Söder set out on a ride through the party's favorite topics.
He also didn't shy away from belt-line rhetorical blows towards the traffic light coalition - he compared the level of training of SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert and Green Party leader Ricarda Lang with that of his dog Molly;
He accused the Greens of a “small war against meat,” and there was also little diplomatic talk of “beef in Berlin.”
Green Minister Steffi Lemke compared Söder to “Margot Honecker”.
Germany must also be defended “in the subway,” said Söder in another pointed passage.
Söder's speech hardly offered any surprises in terms of content.
However, the CSU chairman called for a return of compulsory military service in the “medium term” and once again called on the small coalition partner Free Voters.
Party leader Hubert Aiwanger and his people should not slide into populism and instead “listen to the CSU”.
“FW” does not stand for “Frustrated Voters,” Söder mocked.
Söder also called for the net contributor Bavaria to leave the Federal Republic - loudly but not entirely seriously.
This definitely lifted the spirits of the Ash Wednesday guests in Passau.
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European election top candidate Manfred Weber went to work with particular seriousness.
He warned of dangers from Russia and the AfD - and linked the call for order at the external borders with reference to the important achievements of foreign people in Bavaria, Germany and Europe.
In fact, when it came to the AfD topic, all of the key speakers became serious.
The CSU apparently wants to challenge the hard-right party, the second strongest force in federal election polls, not with pithy statements, but with urgent warnings.
“They would put us in prison,” Söder warned the CSU supporters.
After Söder's Polter Ash Wednesday: Weber is “serious” at the CSU
Update from February 14th, 12:38 p.m.:
Weber is making his announcements come true: “We've talked enough about the traffic lights, the verdict has been made,” he says.
He refers to the Free Voters: Only the CSU will offer “pure Bavaria” in the European elections, says Weber, looking at the party’s candidate lists.
“The other point is: What are politicians actually paid to do?” he continues.
“Hubert Aiwanger was in Brussels exactly once in the last legislative period and held talks there for the Bavarian economy,” says Weber.
Aiwanger's party friend and Environment Minister Glauber never appeared there once.
“Dear Hubert Aiwanger, you are not paid for demonstrating, but for delivering Bavarian successes in Brussels and Berlin.
“Finally do your work, dear Hubert Aiwanger,” calls Weber.
The CSU's top European candidate also addresses the AfD.
Politics has become “serious” again.
The AfD benefits from problems, the CSU from solutions, says Weber.
The fact that church services in Bavarian synagogues are sometimes only possible under police protection is a result of the AfD's appearance.
He wanted to end on a more “thoughtful” quote: “Freedom of speech, freedom of belief, protection of individual citizens from the arbitrariness of criminal acts of violence, these are the foundations of the new Europe,” Weber reads out parts of a White Rose leaflet.
“Let’s create fire for the task of putting Björn Höcke in his place,” the European politician demands of those present.
It is important to counter the call for the “death of this Europe”: “I will not let you Nazis destroy my Europe!”
CSU Ash Wednesday in Passau: Weber warns about Putin
Update from February 14th, 12:25 p.m.:
Weber describes depressing moments of a trip to Ukraine.
The CSU stands on the side of those “who fight for peace and freedom,” he emphasizes.
“Putin has a plan,” warns Weber.
As early as 2014 and 2019, he warned against dependencies on the “dictator” Putin.
“We will have to stand together in the West,” he says – the CSU will “deliver” this.
To this end, investments must also be made in common EU defense structures, for example through the development of our own weapons: “We have to tell every enemy: Don’t mess with us!”
Update from February 14th, 12:15 p.m.:
Weber also tries to provide a differentiated picture when it comes to migration.
Olaf Scholz's job is to ensure that the number of arrivals decreases, he emphasizes.
The face of the country is changing, citizens told him.
But it is also about the question of how Germany and Europe can maintain their prosperity.
Weber emphasizes that 300,000 people from Central and Eastern Europe are currently providing “24-hour care” for old people in Germany.
The CSU is not stuck with the “cheap saying” of wanting to ensure order at the external border.
We want to let in “those who are useful to us;
not those who take advantage of us.”
Update from February 14th, 12:10 p.m.:
However, Weber is taking a stand for the combustion engine: It is a mistake to assume that the entire world will get out of the combustion engine, he warns.
Further trade agreements are also necessary for the German economy.
Update from February 14th, 12:00 p.m.:
The CSU continues: Manfred Weber has taken over the podium.
In Greece people ask him, “why is Germany slipping into recession?”
The simplest solution would be new elections, says Weber.
However, his first substantive emphasis may surprise some guests in the Dreiländerhalle: “Climate change is a reality, with consequences for all of us that cannot yet be foreseen,” warns Weber.
“We as the CSU don’t need the Greens to take these issues seriously,” he says – the applause is rather cold.
The crowd is now growing in the hall's toilets, as
Merkur
correspondent Sebastian Horsch observes.
Political Ash Wednesday at the CSU: Söder warns Aiwanger – and thanks Merz
Update from February 14th, 11:52 a.m.:
At the end, Söder would like a little “thank you” from Berlin for Bavaria's achievements - but still a piece of Valentine's Day on Political Ash Wednesday.
In his own expressions of gratitude, Söder explicitly includes Friedrich Merz alongside the CSU base, the European election campaigners, the state parliamentary group and others.
The hall farewells him with the obligatory standing ovation.
Shouts of “encore” can also be heard, followed by chants of “Oh, how beautiful that is.”
Söder seems relaxed and even relieved.
Standing ovation for Markus Söder: A look into the Passau Dreiländerhalle.
© Sebastian Horsch
Meanwhile, the Greens have canceled their Ash Wednesday event in Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, due to protests and blockades.
Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir and Federal President Ricarda Lang, among others, were scheduled to speak there.
Update from February 14th, 11:46 a.m.:
Söder also warns the coalition partner Free Voters of a populism spiral.
“Just pay attention: FW means free voters and not frustrated voters,” says the Prime Minister.
His advice to Aiwanger and Co: “Do the work and just listen to the CSU every now and then, then nothing can go wrong.”
Söder warns against the AfD: “They would put us in prison” – CSU boss is thinking about conscription
Update from February 14th, 11:38 a.m.:
Despite all the criticism, the “enemy” is not the traffic light coalition, it is just “terrible”.
The enemy is the AfD, Söder makes clear.
“The entire party is becoming radicalized,” he warns, “even Ms. Le Pen is terrified of the German AfD.”
Björn Höcke is calling for the death of the EU – “that is the end of the German economic miracle,” warns Söder.
BMW cannot only be sold in Lower Bavaria.
Anyone who calls for the EU to leave must expect “bitter resistance” from the CSU.
“Those who haven’t understood anything after Putin’s attack on Ukraine, who wants to get out of NATO,” ensure a “red alert for our security,” Söder continues: “The really patriotic fellows are sitting with them!” The AfD wants to deport people , who do important things for Germany, he adds: “If anyone has to leave the country, it should be Höcke” – “to Putin!”
With the words “they would put us in prison,” Söder urges us to defend democracy against the AfD and the like.
At the same time, Söder warns: The Bundeswehr can only withstand an attack for “a few days”.
Compulsory military service is also an issue again in the “medium term”.
Update from February 14th, 11:35 a.m.:
The call for a “gender ban” is followed by criticism of the public broadcasters.
The CSU will not agree to a fee increase, says Söder.
There are great programs on
BR
, such as the mountaineering program “Bergauf Bergab” – or the carnival broadcast from Veitshöchheim in Franconia, says Söder, half seriously, half jokingly.
However, the argument against the cuts made by stations like
Radio Bremen
or
Saarland Radio
is, at best, “that the federal states are on board with it”: “Then we'll save them too, then it will be cheaper for the state financial equalization,” Söder complains.
Update from February 14th, 11:28 a.m.:
Söder's content is lighter, but still coarse, on the subject of education: "I don't want a Bavarian high school diploma at Bremen level," he explains: "The Bremen high school diploma has, at best, the quality of a Lower Bavarian tree nursery - that “It was a bit harsh, I take it back, it was a bit harsh on the Lower Bavarian tree nurseries.”
“Defend Germany in the subway”: Söder warns of “parallel society” and reprimands Merkel
Update from February 14th, 11:20 a.m.:
It's back to business.
The traffic light coalition wants to close hospitals and open drug houses, says Söder with a view to the cannabis legalization plans.
“I don’t want our children to get drugs any more easily at school,” says Söder, “I just don’t want that!” The Union now wants to force a roll-call vote on the cannabis law.
The Union needs a credible turnaround when it comes to migration, demands Söder.
“2015 must be made up for,” he says – a barely concealed reference to Angela Merkel’s course at the time.
“We are on the way to a parallel society,” warns the CSU boss.
“Germany is not only defended in the Hindu Kush or anywhere in the world, Germany has to be defended every day, even in the subway and in the market places,” Söder calls out to the listeners.
Markus Söder during his speech at the CSU's Political Ash Wednesday 2024 in Passau.
© IMAGO/Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON
The plan is clear: “Transform the right to asylum.” Söder then reads out more or less clearly parts of a list of demands from the Union faction leaders – but interrupts to scold Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: “Feminist foreign policy please at the Green party headquarters,” but not as Course of the federal government.
Update from February 14th, 11:13 a.m.:
Now Söder is targeting his deputy in the government: “Working is better than demo-hopping, ministering is better than demonstrating,” he indirectly addresses Hubert Aiwanger.
His job is to “get the best out of every minister” “for the good of the country”.
That's exactly what he will do - a small threat to his coalition partners.
Söder wants to do the rest with one rhyme: “No matter how much the freeman tortures himself, the majority voted for the CSU.”
Update from February 14th, 11:07 a.m.:
Söder now digs deep into the joke drawer: “What distinguishes my dog Molly from Kevin Kühnert and Ricarda Lang?
My dog
has
completed training,” he mocks – the Dreiländerhalle cheers.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck is relying on an economy based on subsidies, says Söder, referring to planned chip factories and Tesla.
But there is nothing for medium-sized businesses – fair conditions and “getting rid of the bureaucratic swamp” are sufficient.
Tax-free overtime is also part of the CSU boss's Ash Wednesday list of demands.
Söder at the CSU Ash Wednesday against the Greens: “Small war against meat”
Update from February 14th, 11:02 a.m.:
“We are still self-sufficient when it comes to food,” says Söder – a theory that is at least worth checking.
In the same breath, the CSU Prime Minister refers to undisputed problems in the medical sector: Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), for example, is “begging” for medication in India.
“People are grown up enough to decide for themselves what they want to eat,” Söder now attacks the Greens.
There is a “constant small war against meat”.
Roast pork, Schäufele, Weißwurst or Nuremberg grilled sausages have “virtually constitutional status” in Bavaria, he warns.
He also defends the tethering in southern Bavaria.
The animals are in the fresh air for half a year.
“I would rather be a bull in Bavaria than a cow in Berlin,” jokes Söder.
Update from February 14th, 10:58 a.m.:
Robert Habeck's heating law is coming up: "We will abolish this, dear friends!" shouts Söder.
He also calls for an end to citizens' money.
Söder's polemical demand: "Replace with good, old social assistance." At the same time, burdens on middle classes must be removed - and: "The farmers are rightly angry."
Söder dreams on Ash Wednesday: “I would like a Bavarian flag on the moon”
Update from February 14th, 10:51 a.m.:
More caresses for the Bavarian soul from the Prime Minister: The country is “mega-modern” and they are “collecting Nobel Prizes”.
He doesn't want to go to the moon, Söder thinks out loud.
But: “A Bavarian flag on the moon, a Bavarian flag, not a German one – I would like that.”
“If you don’t want us as Bavaria…”: Söder threatens to leave the Federal Republic of Germany on Ash Wednesday
Update from February 14th, 10:46 a.m.:
Söder is targeting the Greens as his next target.
“Habeck, Baerbock and Ms. Lang finally need a break,” he demands.
Black-green is not a goal, he makes it clear.
The tour de force continues.
“This right to vote is a frontal attack on the CSU in Bavaria,” Söder criticizes the reform of the traffic light coalition.
“If you don’t want us as Bayern, then just do it yourself, then just let us out,” says Söder.
However, Bavaria can do better without Germany than Germany without Bavaria - because the Federal Republic would be “bankrupt” without the Free State, the CSU boss teases.
“Envy” comes from politics in Berlin.
However, he also says that the heart of Germany “pumps” in the south.
Söder ends a list of Bavarian achievements with the fight against crime: “We punish every crime,” he claims.
“Tachchen, Moin moin”: Söder opens his Ash Wednesday with traffic light laughter – speech now live
Update from February 14th, 10:42 a.m.:
"Tachchen, Moin moin, Hello" Söder opens his speech - and quickly resolves: "That's what you say with green, that's what you say with red, that's what you say with yellow.
This is not for us!
“We say hello and hello in Bavaria!” shouts Söder – and immediately gets the loudest answer in the room so far.
The CSU is the “traffic light and wokeness-free zone,” he adds.
The next clear announcement: “Clear the way, new elections are needed, the traffic lights have to go, dear friends!”
Markus Söder at the CSU's Political Ash Wednesday 2024 in Passau.
© Peter Kneffel/dpa/picture-alliance
Update from February 14th, 10:30 a.m.:
The district landlord has the floor: The Lower Bavarian CSU boss Christian Bernreiter is apparently still a little confused about the constellation - Andreas Scheuer was the head of the district association until July 2023.
It takes a while before a scolding of Hubert Aiwanger, who is often seen at demonstrations, gets the first loud shouts.
Bernreiter also gets serious about the AfD issue: “Peace, freedom, democracy and prosperity are not God-given, you have to fight for it every day,” he says to applause from the audience.
Huber opens CSU Ash Wednesday with the FDP punch line: “Beer has more percentage than the party”
Update from February 14th, 10:20 a.m.:
The first speaker is the CSU General Secretary.
Martin Huber first welcomes the party leaders present one by one.
The first laugh at the expense of the competition follows: The other Ash Wednesday events were more like “self-help groups,” jokes Huber.
He heard that “there is still room among the Free Voters and the FDP has more waiters than guests.”
“To definitely ensure that the beer doesn't have a higher percentage than the party, there are only cyclists,” the CSU general continues to tease - “and even that is still too much, actually it would be enough!” They follow First serious words, with the AfD the fun ends audibly: the party is inhumane, destroys prosperity and a real security risk, right-wing extremists are as common there as “grains of sand in the desert,” says Huber.
Update from February 14th, 10:10 a.m.:
The parade still echoes through the Dreiländerhalle.
After a handshake marathon, Söder reached the stage and celebrated with his arms outstretched - the reception was friendly.
Update from February 14th, 10:02 a.m.:
The CSU's Political Ash Wednesday 2024 is underway.
The moderator is Sat.1 TV journalist Ralf Exel.
After a film, the parade march traditionally sounds: Söder enters the hall.
He is followed by Secretary General Martin Huber, regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt and EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber - in that order.
Also in the crowd is Lower Bavaria CSU boss Christian Bernreiter.
Söder eats before CSU Ash Wednesday - and catches nasty comments about Franz Josef Strauss
Update from February 14th, 9:55 a.m.:
Söder eats - and stages: The CSU boss uses his social media channels as a podium in front of the stage at the Passau Dreiländerhalle.
There you can find out: Söder relies on a fish roll as a refreshment before the performance.
And on his lapel he wears a pin with the portrait of his former idol Franz Josef Strauss.
However, when asked which FJS portrait is better, the comments put a few dampers.
“Well, I like both Franz Josef Strauss pins better than you, Mr. Söder,” teased a user with the descriptive pseudonym “Grantler.”
Pretzels, beer and a “traffic light-free zone”: Söder’s CSU celebrates political Ash Wednesday – with a change in style?
Preliminary report from February 14th:
Passau/Munich - After the end of carnival, the rough fun really begins in Lower Bavaria - that is the usual route for the CSU's political Ash Wednesday in Passau.
Everything is ready this Wednesday (February 14th).
Party leader Markus Söder will speak in the Dreiländerhalle.
As does General Secretary Martin Huber, who is officially responsible for the CSU attack department.
On the homepage of the Ingolstadt district association you can read: With “around 6,000 CSU members” they want to spend the day with “beer, pretzels and hearty speeches”.
But there are doubts that the date will be consistently reasonable this time.
Co-speaker and EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber has announced a more serious tone in view of the AfD's (now slightly subdued) rise and the approaching European elections.
Söder at the CSU's Political Ash Wednesday: “Plain text” against the AfD?
“Weber wants to end the traffic light bashing” was the recent headline in the
Munich Merkur
.
The
BR
at least picked up on the date and put “political Valentine’s Wednesday” on the agenda – albeit with the addition of “exchange of blows instead of a bouquet of flowers”.
Weber, however, had warned months ago about a choice of direction in Europe.
He must be serious.
According to information from
Merkur
, Weber could also attack the Free Voters - more precisely, their non-presence in Brussels.
Söder's "Foreign Minister" Eric Beißwenger had recently revealed in an aside that he had not yet met Hubert Aiwanger abroad.
The AfD is also likely to be an issue.
Those around Söder said that there would be “plain language and no wishy-washy”.
The right-wing populists could provide a great opportunity: they are sending hardliner and European election candidate Maximilian Krah to their Ash Wednesday in Osterhofen (Deggendorf district).
But the CSU will probably not disappoint its most die-hard supporters.
Söder promised a “guaranteed traffic light-free zone” the morning before the appointment.
Most recently, he repeatedly called for new elections to the Bundestag and suggested that the European elections be scheduled for June 9th.
Long-distance duel between the coalition: Söder with the CSU in Passau, Aiwanger's Free Voters in Deggendorf
Söder also revealed: He put the “finishing touches” on his speech on Tuesday afternoon over a doughnut.
It's simply part of the end of the carnival.
Which meant that there was a bit less of an attack noticeable than in the previous days.
The CSU boss said the Greens had a “strategy” against Leberkäs, currywurst and the like.
Some interested looks from the CSU are also likely to wander to the competition's Ash Wednesday events.
Söder's Deputy Prime Minister Aiwanger speaks to the Free Voters in Deggendorf.
Party leader Omid Nouripour is traveling to Landshut for his favorite opponent, the Greens.
The BSW also organizes a political Ash Wednesday - with figurehead Sahra Wagenknecht like the CSU in Passau.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz appears in the evening in Apolda, Thuringia.
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