An initial report said Angela Merkel's Bavarian sister party would be seeing a shake-up — a report the party quickly denied. Bavaria's state premier, Horst Seehofer, has been under pressure over election losses.
Image: picture alliance/Sven Simon/F. Hoermann
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Bavarian broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) on Thursday reported that Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), was to stand aside as the leader of Bavaria's government.
However, the CSU responded quickly, saying that the report — which had cited no sources — was "absolutely wrong."
A shake-up had been widely expected as senior members of the CSU met on Thursday.
According to the BR's initial report, Seehofer was to be replaced by his rival, Bavarian Finance Minister Markus Söder. BR said Seehofer would remain as leader of the CSU, despite facing pressure from within his party over the asylum policy of Angela Merkel's government.
The CSU is the Bavarian sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), which stands in Germany's other states.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O. Andersen
The report arose amid political wrangling as Germany struggles seeks a way out of an impasse caused by the collapse of coalition talks on Sunday.
Seehofer is expected to hold talks with senior members of the CSU before the party's executive board publishes a list of its preferred candidates for leadership roles in December. A party conference will make the final decision in mid-December.
During coalition talks, the CSU is understood to have pushed for a new German government to focus on security and curbing immigration. Along with the CDU, the CSU bled support in a September general election to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
In the general election, the CSU lost more than 10 percentage points when it came to the popular vote — tumbling from almost 50 percent to 38.8 percent. The AfD, meanwhile, did better than expected, garnering 12.4 percent.
CSU: Who could replace Bavaria's King Horst?
Bavaria's premier and Christian Social Union leader Horst Seehofer vowed to "fight like a lion" at the failed coalition talks. But that may have been his last roar. So who's waiting in the wings to replace him?
Image: picture alliance/dpa/P. Kneffel
Something to take away the pain
Horst Seehofer (right) has effectively lived, breathed and eaten CSU values, probably since he was born. The 69-year-old has been at the helm of the party and Bavaria since 2008 and has, thus far, staved off challenges to his throne by young upstarts such as Markus Söder (left). More on him a little later. But in the wake of a crushing September election result, Seehofer may no longer be tenable.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow
Seehofer hinted at his resignation following the CSU debacle in Bavaria in October 2018. Later, when German media cited sources close to him to report he would soon step down, Seehofer denied it. Just days later, he reportedly told top CSU members he would relinquish his office, and probably step down as interior minister at a later date.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Stein
'I get knocked down, but I get up again'
Lyrics from what is possibly Markus Söder's favorite tune. One of the pretenders to Seehofer's throne, the finance minister has been forging alliances within the CSU to prop up his position as the next-in-line. Problem is, his boss doesn't see it that way and quite frankly doesn't like him. Standing in front of the Acropolis might be the pinnacle for him — akro is Greek for "highest point."
Image: Jörg Koch/Bayeriches Finanzministerium/dpa
Let's see what this button does
Arguably the smoothest of the CSU's smooth operators, Alexander Dobrindt has made a name for himself at the national level as transport minister — but not necessarily for the right reasons: Dieselgate, a controversial road toll and the farce that is the planned Berlin-Brandenburg airport, to be completed in...oh, stop it. Anyway, Seehofer seems to like him and his checkered suits.
Image: Getty Images/J. Schlueter
Into the light
Unassuming but not to be underestimated, Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann is respected beyond the state and was touted to head up the federal Interior Ministry before it all went pear-shaped. He's known for his tough stance on a refugee cap, an issue dear to his boss Seehofer's heart. His age, 61, may count against him if the CSU really does want to rejuvenate.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Nietfeld
You think my hat looks silly? Look behind me
While she may need to work on her hat choices, deputy premier and Bavarian Economics Minister Ilse Aigner at least has a clear idea of what she wants politically. She's positioned herself as a possible Seehofer successor, much to his chagrin, by calling for a primary to decide on who should lead the CSU in next year's state election.
Image: Getty Images/J. Simon
I'll get my coat then
Manfred Weber heads the European People's Party in the European Parliament — don't fall asleep just yet. While that would normally exclude him from new pastures within the CSU, on the grounds of being boring, he's seen as one of Seehofer's key confidants and has defended his boss against attacks from the CSU's youth wing. He's been a steadying influence within the party.
Image: Imago/Sven Simon
The Dark Knight rises
Remember Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg? He of the slicked-back, jet-black hair and a plagiarized dissertation? The thing is, the people in Bavaria love him and Germany arguably never had a cooler-looking defense minister. But, more importantly, Seehofer has made no attempts to hide his admiration and sees Guttenberg as his and the party's natural hair, er, heir.
