Bavaria: Seehofer apparently ready to retreat as Prime Minister

The CSU chief will not be the top candidate for the Landtag election 2018, it is said from the party leadership. However, he would like to retain his position as chairman of the CSU.

Bavaria: Seehofer apparently ready to retreat as Prime Minister

CSU chief Horst Seehofer does not want to take 2018 again as a top candidate in Bavarian Landtag election – but retain his position as party chairman. This is his own proposal for future discussion within CSU. This is reported by several media and German press agency, citing closest party leadership.

Seehofer is in principle also willing to resign his position as Bavarian prime Minister to a successor before Landtag election in autumn 2018. As a possible time, he called first quarter of 2018, as was said by leading CSU politicians.

At latest on Monday 68-year-old wants to speak officially, n special meetings of Landtag Group and party board are scheduled. Since CSU's vote losses in Bundestag election, Seehofer has been under pressure to make at least one of its two top offices. It is still unclear who CSU wants to nominate for post as prime minister instead of Seehofer. The Bavarian finance minister Markus Söder and Bavaria's interior minister Joachim Herrmann are considered possible candidates.

The retreat had implied

In past few days it had already been hinted that Seehofer would not again be top candidate for Landtag election and thus ceased at latest in autumn 2018 as head of government. "The most outstanding wish in party is that we, in consensus, tackle huge tasks that we are doing toger," said Seehofer before discussions of closer party leadership on Sunday in Munich. "Now we are trying as quickly as possible to come back to legendary commonality and unity that CSU has awarded for decades."

"Today knot is beaten," said Development aid Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) in ZDF broadcast Berlin direct. Müller said that a repositioning, in which Seehofer CSU chief remained and office of Prime Minister would be discharged, would be a good solution for him. He indicated that Seehofer could switch to federal political scene after a separation of offices. He could very well imagine that re was a renewal at top in Munich and that Seehofer in Berlin would care for a strong representation of CSU, Müller said. "With Seehofer as party chairman, this would be guaranteed."

After losses in Bundestag election on 24 September, pressure on Seehofer had grown to share his power at head of party and federal State, in order to improve CSU's starting position in Landtag election. Critics fear for loss of an absolute majority. Söder, who in recent years has expanded circle of his supporters, especially within Landtag faction, had repeatedly made his claim to succession clear – but he has not yet officially stood for a candidacy. In turn, Seehofer had repeatedly stressed that he did not hold his intimate enemy for a suitable successor.

Recently, Seehofer, after hours of meetings with governing bodies, had announced that future staff tableau of Christian social Festzuzurren next week. However, top candidate for Landtag election is officially elected at Delegates ' meeting in Nuremberg.

Date Of Update: 04 December 2017, 12:02
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