Horst Seehofer, state premier of Bavaria, is set to step down, but will remain head of the CSU as part of a party compromise. Intra-party conflict has made coalition building in Berlin difficult.
Image: Reuters/L. Barth
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Horst Seehofer is set to step down as Bavaria's state premier before local elections next year in order to end an internal crisis within his Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Seehofer, who will retain his position as party leader, is to be replaced at the helm of the Bavarian government by the state's current finance minister, Markus Söder. State parliament party delegates voted for Söder unanimously on Monday, after state interior minister Joachim Herrmann bowed out of the race.
Speaking at the session of delegates in Munich on Monday, Söder said it was the beginning of a "new chapter" for the party.
After recent wrangles at the top of the party, Söder said it was now time to "speak to one another rather than over one another" and to again find common ground. Söder said he would accept the responsibility "with courage, but also with humility."
After meeting with senior party leaders on Sunday, Seehofer had said a consensus had been reached that was "generally well received."
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.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Gambarini
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Struggle to form a coalition
Seehofer is expected to step down by the end of February, the broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk reported, but not before federal coalition talks are completed in Berlin.
Party sources said the idea was not to weaken Seehofer's position in coalition talks at the federal level, where he may end up as a minister.
Intra-party conflict within the CSU could complicate Merkel's effort to form a new government. The other options would be for the conservatives to form a minority government or to call a new election. But both are considered problematic.
Seehofer has been under pressure to resign or give up some power after the CSU took a drubbing in September's federal election, getting 38.8 percent of the Bavarian vote compared to 49.3 percent in the 2013 ballot.
The CSU operates only in Bavaria, but is allied with Merkel's CDU at the national level. The two parties jointly conduct coalition talks.
However, differences within the conservative grouping have emerged over issues such as immigration, after the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) pulled votes from the CDU and CSU. Those differences have largely been patched up after the sister parties agreed on a tougher immigration platform.
