Horst Seehofer: the president of the CSU leaves his post

He does not want to overshadow the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bavarian government. Horst Seehofer has always justified his reluctance to adopt his own personality in recent days. Now, exactly this scenario has happened: on Monday afternoon, Markus Söder will present his new ministers – but the man of the day is his predecessor.

Seehofer at a meeting of CSU party leadership Sunday night internally retired as party leader in sight. As a result, CSU is currently preparing a special party congress for the beginning of 2019 to elect a new leader.

When exactly will Seehofer be replaced and if he will soon be Foreign Minister of the Interior, this is not yet clear. Seehofer wants to explain publicly soon, neither he nor his party have confirmed the decision so far. Whether the moment chosen is now that of a last revenge of Seehofer against Söder or simply of the last remaining option of Seehofer, that is what the interpretations consist of.

Whatever it may be, what Seehofer has explained to the twenty or so Christian social leaders, including the district presidents, the party executive, the leaders of the parliamentary and regional group and the EPP president, Manfred Weber, will not be long. "2019 will be the year of CSU renewal," said Seehofer, according to participants. He himself does not want to oppose the new beginning.

Seehofer is elected president of the CSU until the end of 2019, but a previous withdrawal now seems final. The step is not a surprise. It was only indirectly on the agenda of the party meeting. Key point: Treatment of the election in the state, that is to say: who is responsible for the wrong numbers. First, the ballot continues to blur the provisional list of CSUs for the European election behind the main candidate Weber.

Reviews of district presidents

While the "Great Location" room on the first floor of the CSU headquarters retains as much as Söder, Seehofer has to issue a lot of criticism from the district presidents when the blinds are lowered in front of the cameras. They tell their party leader of the bad mood at the grbadroots level and the exuberant desire for change.

Complaints, previously made by the Swabian district president Markus Ferber about the ZDF: another electoral defeat is "no prospect for the CSU," said Ferber. Consequences for the staff? "I think the Chancellor was a good model," said Ferber. However, Seehofer will lead his party even longer than the CDU Merkel, according to the schedule now set.

The signals were clear however: at another waiting loop with Seehofer, the party will not be involved. Weber has formulated, also on ZDF, always reserved: "Everyone in the party knows that there can be no more sun."

Thus, Seehofer bends, as last year, when Söder replaced him as Prime Minister, as a result of internal pressure. Although the leader of the Söder party will probably inherit from him, other promising candidates are currently not in sight.

On Sunday evening, Seehofer calls the participants' reports, a farewell with dignity and with the necessary time. This could put a strain on the patience of the successor. En route to his company car, Seehofer once stressed his freedom, without mentioning the personality: The evening's sleeve is not a decision-making body, everything else will follow. And as he had several alternatives: "Now I go home, the best place to make decisions."

Shortly after, Söder leaves the party headquarters, he is even tighter: he must now take care of his office first.