Under Friedrich Merz, the CDU is in free fall across Germany:
Only the CSU in Bavaria is still defying the downward spiral – What are they doing differently?
stern.de/politik/deutschland/csu-parteitag--so-trotzt-markus-soeder-dem-merz-malus-38429978.html
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German centre-right political party
conservative party in Bavaria, Germany
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Strange times in Bavaria: Why many are suddenly discovering their love for the CSU
sueddeutsche.de/bayern/csu-volkspartei-bayern-soeder-li.3567679
Söder wants her, Merz hesitates: Will this woman become Federal President?: Ilse Aigner (CSU), President of the Bavarian State Parliament, and Markus Söder (CSU) ...
morgenpost.de/politik/article413464542/soeder-will-sie-merz-zoegert-wird-diese-frau-bundespraesidentin.html
“Putin's court jesters, Kremlin servants”: Söder fires back at AfD after Russia trip scandal
focus.de/politik/deutschland/hofnarren-putins-kremlknechte-soeder-schiesst-nach-russlandreise-eklat-gegen-afd_b37b0c41-5fa2-406b-9d9a-2a5d5fd2e234.html
Key FactsSöder Condemns AfD’s Ties to Russia
Nov 16, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
- Markus Söder labeled the AfD as Kremlin servants closely linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- AfD Bundestag members reportedly organize visits to the Russian embassy, raising concerns about their loyalties.
- Söder asserted that only the CDU and CSU can prevent radicals from gaining power, ruling out any coalition with the AfD.
- The AfD is partly classified as right-wing extremist by the domestic intelligence agency, with some members under suspicion or indictment.
This group, they are sycophants, they are Putin's court jesters, they are Kremlin lackeys.— Markus Söder, leader of the CSU, speaking at the Young Union's Germany Day about the AfD.
“Is that fair?” Markus Lanz and Markus Söder argue about social justice.: Lanz tries to engage Söder in a debate about social justice and wealth inequality ...
sueddeutsche.de/medien/markus-soeder-markus-lanz-tv-kritik-csu-li.3306921
Paid articlePaywallKey FactsSöder Condemns Federal Financial Equalization System
Sep 3, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: berliner-zeitung.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: berliner-zeitung.de
- Markus Söder sharply criticized the financial equalization system as unfair and burdensome to Bavaria during a TV interview.
- Only a few states, including Bavaria, finance the majority of payments to other federal regions.
- Since the 1950s, Bavaria has contributed far more money than it has received from the system.
- Söder pointed out that Berlin and other recipient states spend on items Bavaria cannot afford.
The fiscal equalization is the biggest disgrace and a huge crap, excuse me, that exists in Germany.— Markus Söder commented on the fiscal equalization in the ZDF show 'Markus Lanz'.
Merz contradicts Söder: New dispute over inheritance tax: Bavaria's Prime Minister Söder has suffered a severe setback with his plan to give the states ...
faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/merz-widerspricht-soeder-neuer-streit-um-die-erbschaftsteuer-110665013.html
Paid articlePaywall
Söder receives Kanlzler Merz on the Zugspitze with Schuhplattler and Gebirgsschützen
sueddeutsche.de/bayern/bayern-zugspitze-merz-soeder-empfang-li.3284584
Key FactsMerz and Söder discuss migration at Zugspitze
Jul 15, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: welt.de
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz attended a Bavarian cabinet meeting at Zugspitze on July 15.
- According to Söder, asylum figures are declining; he says more Bavarian asylum seekers leave voluntarily because of payment cards.
- Merz plans to promote Bavaria’s payment-card model in Berlin; the SPD has not agreed to it.
- Söder called for retaining combustion engines, plus more gas-fired power plants and transmission lines in southern Germany.
Germany is no longer driving its migration policy off course.— Merz, at a press briefing after the Zugspitze cabinet meeting, commenting on migration policy.
Top-level coalition talks: CDU/CSU and SPD negotiate "some chunks": The CDU, CSU, and SPD spent a week and a half discussing a coalition agreement in working ...
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/koalition-cdu-csu-und-spd-verhandeln-einige-brocken-spitzengespraeche-gestartet-a-d3aa27de-3c80-416f-b5af-c80b0d1c3d59
Federal election: Can the Bavarian SPD still be saved?: The dispute over the firewall to the AfD has enlivened the Social Democrats and brought in many new ...
sueddeutsche.de/bayern/spd-bayern-ronja-endres-afd-merz-esken-bundestagswahl-li.3194682
2025 federal election: SPD and Greens criticize Merz for plans on migration applications
sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2025-news-neuwahlen-migration-cdu-afd-li.3188602
Merz welcomes Söder in Brilon: Affection between alpha males: Friedrich Merz invites Markus Söder to his home in the Sauerland, for a white sausage breakfast in ...
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/markus-soeder-zu-gast-bei-friedrich-merz-in-brilon-zaertlichkeiten-unter-alphamaennchen-a-be3f5301-b3c2-4571-a302-8437505f8670
Federal election: Söder presents Merz biography and emphasizes unity between CDU and CSU
sueddeutsche.de/politik/soeder-merz-cdu-csu-bundestagswahl-li.3184770
Federal election 2025: Söder gives Merz "full backing": When the CSU posters for the federal election campaign are presented, the solidarity with the CDU becomes ...
sueddeutsche.de/bayern/bayern-soeder-merz-csu-plakate-bundestagswahl-2025-lux.T4rJcfgcMohcYAvNtAkqkf
Key FactsCSU and CDU: United for the 2025 Election
Dec 9, 2024 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: sueddeutsche.de
- The CSU unveiled campaign posters for the 2025 Bundestag election, highlighting their alliance with the CDU.
- Markus Söder and Friedrich Merz are prominently featured, while Franz Josef Strauß is no longer highlighted in this campaign.
- The main slogan of the campaign reads 'Restoring Order to Germany,' focusing on migration, economy, and strengthening the military.
- Söder emphasized his rejection of a black-green coalition, fearing it could empower the AfD, which poses a risk to Germany.
New Year's Eve violence: quarter of those arrested in Germany have dual passports
welt.de/politik/deutschland/article243061433/Silvester-Gewalt-Viertel-der-deutschen-Festgenommenen-hat-Doppelpass.html
"Must act quickly": Söder and Merz demand continued operation of nuclear power plants until 2024.
n-tv.de/politik/Soeder-und-Merz-fordern-AKW-Weiterbetrieb-bis-2024-article23506895.html
Key FactsMerz wants nuclear power plants to function for another "two to five years" with Söder at Isar 2 nuclear power plant.
Apr 26, 2023 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance
Summary created with AI assistance
- Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder pay a visit to the Isar 2 nuclear power plant, which serves as an excellent backdrop for them to renew their desire for longer operational hours.
- Söder stated that it was not a matter of "us simply being nuclear energy supporters now," but of finding "a reasonable and good solution."
- He, like Söder, advocated haste.
- Söder, Merz, and Glauber stand by the TÜV report. According to Söder, the power plant visit validated a TÜV Süd report that Isar 2 could operate through the winter without shutting down.
Gas supply: Söder warns of cold apartments - Video - WELT: The German government wants to do everything to ensure the security of gas supply and the stability of ...
welt.de/politik/deutschland/video239828583/Gasversorgung-Soeder-warnt-vor-kalten-Wohnungen.html
Anne Will: How Markus Söder thinks about relaxation for vaccinated people: In "Anne Will" the debate revolved around basic rights for people who had been ...
waz.de/kultur/fernsehen/anne-will-markus-soeder-corona-impfung-id232191565.html
Söder plans to ban the Reich war flag in Bavaria: “We don't let right-wing extremists hijack our liberal democracy,” says the Bavarian Prime Minister ...
faz.net/1.6972795
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