Söder supports Chancellor candidate Merz: The emphasis on reconciliation

German media were still expecting a “confrontation” on Tuesday morning: the big duel between CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder for the Union’s candidacy for chancellor.

The speculation was triggered by party colleague Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of Germany’s largest federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia, who withdrew himself from the race on Monday evening and now supports Merz.

Then at 12 noon came the surprise: Merz and Söder appeared together in front of the microphones – in Berlin, where the Bavarian is said to have been staying since Sunday. Söder was then the first to speak: “To put it briefly: the K question has been decided. Friedrich Merz is doing it. I’m fine with that and expressly support it.”

Söder explained in a matter-of-fact manner that both Merz and he himself have good poll ratings. “Historically, however, the CDU, as the bigger sister, has the clear first right of access.”

“Most important personnel issue in German politics”

The tone was very different from before the last federal election in 2021, when Söder had openly challenged the then CDU candidate Armin Laschet for weeks. Söder said he had made a promise that this would not happen again, “and I am keeping my word.”

Merz also emphasized the new unity and the “personal appreciation” for one another. The recent state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, in which the AfD made significant gains, had made it clear how important stability within the Union is.

“Because in parts of our country the Union is the last remaining popular party of the democratic center,” said Merz. Söder even elevated the office of the CDU/CSU top candidate to the “most important personnel issue in German politics.”

Both have therefore been talking “in detail and openly” for months about how best to work together. “Because both party leaders form the center of the Union,” said Söder, who also took a swipe at Hendrik Wüst, whom the CSU accuses of only “making himself important”: “There are many state premiers in the Union, but only two party leaders.”

The CDU’s tougher migration policy has “healed a wound”

But what has changed in the internal relationship between the CDU/CSU in the past three years? Söder gave a clear answer: “We are together again on the most central issue that has divided us since 2015: migration.”

The CDU’s now much tougher course has “healed a wound,” said Söder: “We no longer have any disputes. That just feels good.”

Nevertheless, according to Merz, migration should not be the main topic of the next CDU election campaign – probably out of fear of losing voters to the AfD. Instead, the focus should be on the “precarious economic situation in Germany”. This will now be worked out.

Although the executive boards of both parties have to decide on Merz’s candidacy on Monday, he himself said: “We can start the election campaign immediately.” Complacency, however, is coming from Kazakhstan, where SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared on Tuesday on the sidelines of a state visit that Merz as the Union candidate was “fine” for him.