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As expected, Markus Söder, 52, succeeded Horst Seehofer as head of the CSU. REUTERS / Andreas Gebert

German conservative parties are changing direction. In early December, Angela Merkel left the head of the Christian Democratic Party after 18 years, while remaining Chancellor. This Saturday, a new chapter opens in the fraternal party, the Bavarian CSU. Markus Söder, who has been running the region since last spring, succeeds Chancellor Chancellor Horst Seehofer after more than a decade.

With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibaut

There is a bit of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde at Markus Söder. The new president of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) has long been perceived as an ambitious, long-toothed and populist who did not shrink from thunderous statements, for example on the issue of migration.

For a long time, Markus Söder, who has been running his region since last March, has been transformed. He presents himself, consensual and moderate, as the father, if not of the Nation, in any case of the Free State of Bavaria, to use the unofficial denomination of the region.

Markus Söder who has just been elected head of the CSU with 87% of the votes wants to modernize his party, make it more urban, more feminine and more ecological. He presented himself as a convinced European rejecting the return to the nationalisms of the past.

Markus Söder also pleaded for a " new chapter " in his cooperation with the Christian Democrats of the CDU after many bickering in recent years.

2019 could therefore be marked by a peaceful coexistence of the two conservative parties after their open war last year, which harmed the image of Angela Merkel's government.

► (Re) read: Germany: Horst Seehofer abandons the presidency of the CSU