CDU: Söder probably wants to take over: Will Seehofer lead the way?

There is this legendary soup soup story. At the height of the dispute between the CDU and the CSU for the capitation fee ("health bonus"), Horst Seehofer was cut off for days in his apartment. Mobile off, immersed, accessible to anyone.

Seehofer only fed on soup of dough, says this legend. Nobody really knows if she is absolutely right. some also report ravioli or canned soups as emergency rations. The main story of 2002 is so popular because it illustrates two things about the current CSU leader: he can be very stubborn. And: He does crucial things with himself.

Friends in the CSU? "In politics, there is no friendship," said the 68-year-old prime minister. It was not a joke. Politics is a fight for him. And he has long loved this fight.

What if Seehofer did not give in?

Now it's time again. They do not know what he's doing. The big ones of the CSU have no idea what Seehofer predicts. The anger over the fall of Bayern and the loss of the absolute majority is good for many. Seehofer was not responsible for the permanent theater in Berlin? Has not the "Horscht" entered the wrong situation in which he is? Is Seehofer now withdrawing as party leader? He does not really want to protest, those who are closer to him. He does not see it at all.

The Ingolstadt man would find it profoundly unfair that he, who has always considered himself an ardent defender of the interests of the so-called small people, now badumes the responsibility of a course that all personalities have supported. They were all present at the beginning of the summer – including Prime Minister Markus Söder – when it was meant to introduce into immigration policy a choice of more words. Strict and a clear demarcation of Angela Merkel. He does not want to be the scapegoat alone, he does not want to give the "Watschenbaum" as he says himself.

The "bloody variant"

The big advantage of Seehofer: he is elected until the autumn of 2019. He can just stay stubborn. Should they come? Who wants to get rid of him as party leader, must be open with him. The "bloody variant" is the name of this path in CSU slang. That this does not make the already tarnished reputation of the party is clear to all. So, Seehofer should be treated.

District pressure could be increased so that Seehofer himself leads the way. CSU Schwaben had requested a special holiday only days after the Bayern elections. It was said that there was talk of "training" for years to come. In other district badociations, the mood should be similar. Several district badociations have already requested the replacement of Seehofer. In the CSU, they even talk about an appointment for a special party: December 8th.

Söder changed his opinion

At the same time, the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" announced that Söder wanted to run for the presidency of the party. Franconia had so far had little desire for office. Berlin is really detestable to him. During the election campaign, he held speeches in which he felt blasphemed about Berlin twenty times – not to mention the attacks on Berlin's journalists.

But now that Merkel has said to withdraw from the leadership of the party, the situation is different, they say to the CSU. The coalition talks in Berlin without Merkel could imagine Söder. For the moment, however, the Chancellor must still be expected. She is still here and she is strong. Who weakens them weakens the Union.

Söder may have heard that some of his party colleagues found it odd that someone who wants to be at the top of his or her head can disdain the leadership of the party. And Söder may not have wanted to give way to the rather popular European politician Manfred Weber.

"More power – it's alluring"

Only: first, Seehofer should be politically put aside. It could make things difficult for party friends. "I'm not an absolute leader," he said once. But also words like "more power – it is attractive" are transmitted to him. Everyone who attends journalists' rallies and enthusiastically explains his vision of the world clearly suspects that the second sentence clearly hits the heart of Seehofer. He likes to be a director on pieces of which he knows the action only by himself.

In the CDU, many are completely served by Seehofer. The new president of the Hesse state group, Michael Brand, said: "Who puts his ego on responsibility and acts more pathologically than by political standards, which should not come as a surprise to people. hijack with anger and horror. "Everyone does not talk like that, but many people think about CDU. Their concern: that the man, whom many call only "the egomaniac", is reprimanded as party leader, but remains in Berlin as federal minister of the Interior.

Seehofer has other projects

The party leader actually has completely different projects. He would like to create his own CSU for the future. Many of the party 's friends are too provincial for him, so his perception exudes too much the spirit of a regional party. Seehofer has still not given up its plans to put the cosmopolitan Franks Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in a dominant position, know the confidants of Seehofer. He is indifferent to the fact that many consider the baron as terribly overestimated.

But the season of Seehofer could end. Wednesday begins the EPP Congress in Helsinki. Manfred Weber to be named the Conservatives' first candidate in the European elections. He appears in a fight against the Finn Alexander Stubb. Nothing should and should not go wrong, if ever a Christsozialer had such luck. Seehofer himself also wants to get to the rendezvous, he announced. After that, however, the last secret for CSU members, who have been pulling their thongs since Oct. 14, is coming to an end.

We will see how big the resistance to Seehofer is. At the same time, the inhabitants of the northernmost regions of the republic use the word "Watschenbaum" in their vocabulary.

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