As of: February 29, 2024, 10:36 a.m
By: Patrick Mayer
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Markus Söder is confronted with a possible candidacy for chancellor at Nockherberg.
A no sounds different - the CDU gives Söder one.
Munich – Does he want to try again in the 2025 federal election?
In 2021, Markus Söder (CSU) was denied the chancellor candidacy for the Union.
At the traditional politician “Derblecken” at Nockherberg on Wednesday evening (February 28th) in Munich, Söder was once again confronted with a possible candidacy for chancellor.
Markus Söder is confronted with the question of running for chancellor at Nockherberg
Instead of the franc, the Rhineland CDU politician Armin Laschet tried in the recent election - and failed.
The Union fell by 8.7 percent of the vote and, with 24.2 percent, became only second behind the SPD, which now has Chancellor Olaf Scholz thanks to 25.7 percent of the vote.
According to reports, Söder really struggled with the supposed affront of the sister party CDU for not taking him into account.
Now that the CDU and CSU are leaving the SPD and the Greens behind in the polls, does he see his chance now?
In any case, Bavaria's head of government surprised with rather harsh words.
Bavarian Prime Minister: Markus Söder from the CSU, here at the Nockherberg 2024 in Munich.
© IMAGO / Sven Simon
Chancellor question – Söder taunts the CDU
The CSU leader philosophized about the chancellorship and took a sharp dig at the sister party, the CDU.
In the “Discussion on Nockherberg”, a TV regulars' table on
BR
, moderator Ursula Heller asked the 57-year-old what he would do if CDU chairman Friedrich Merz and North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) knocked on his door ask him about his readiness.
“For a Bavarian Prime Minister, there is a Bavarian Prime Minister and perhaps Federal Chancellor,” Söder then explained energetically.
And spoke out against the CDU in a sarcastic tone: “But they said to the Chancellor at the time that we wanted to take someone else who had more chances.
That’s what was said back then,” explained Söder, referring to Laschet’s nomination.
“The strategy has obviously worked well.
But that was a chapter that was closed.”
For a Bavarian Prime Minister, there is a Bavarian Prime Minister, and perhaps Federal Chancellor.
Markus Söder (CSU)
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CSU Chancellor for the Union?
Franz Josef Strauss and Edmund Stoiber failed
“By the way, that’s how it’s always been in Bavaria’s history,” Söder added.
“It was like that with Strauss, it was like that with Stoiber.
Like the shoemaker with his lasts, I'll stay in Bavaria," he continued.
To put it into perspective: Former Prime Minister Franz Josef Strauß (CSU), who is considered Söder's great role model, was defeated by SPD Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in the 1980 federal election.
Back then, under Strauss, the Union won more votes with 44.5 percent than the Social Democrats (42.9 percent).
But: At the time, the FDP wanted to continue the social-liberal coalition with the SPD under Hans-Dietrich Genscher, which is why the polarizing Upper Palatinate Strauss ultimately did not become chancellor.
Neither does Stoiber, who is now 82 years old from Upper Bavaria.
In the 2002 federal election, the then Bavarian Prime Minister was defeated by the incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and instead remained head of government in the Free State until 2007.
What's next for Söder?
At least he seems to continue to believe in his qualities for the Chancellery.
(pm)