Markus Söder: Chancellor candidate in the middle of the Corona crisis would be a mistake

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According to CSU boss Markus Söder, the Union should only elect its candidate for chancellor after the Corona crisis.

“In the middle of the pandemic, it would be wrong in my opinion.

Only after this has subsided, or in the spring, when land is in sight again, does it make sense to make this personal decision, ”said the Bavarian Prime Minister of the German Press Agency in Munich.

He is skeptical about an early start before the state elections in March.

On March 14, state elections are due in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Hesse's Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) meanwhile spoke out in favor of a quick candidate selection.

"For the people it is not important at the moment whether there will be a decision on the candidacy for chancellor in January," said Söder.

Politics should now focus on fighting the pandemic.

“After that there is enough time for everything else.” The initial situation has not changed in the past few months: “The CDU has the natural right to propose.

But decisions are only made jointly by the CDU and CSU. ”Söder is ahead in surveys on this question, but he has never stated that he has ambitions for the post.

For reasons of election strategy, too, the CDU and CSU should be patient on this issue: “I think it is not about making the fastest decision, but rather the best.

And it has to be carefully considered: Who can be most successful with which program and which strategy? "

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Söder referred to the bad experiences that the SPD, for example, had made with early Chancellor candidate elections in the past.

In addition, the Greens - presumably the main opponent of the Union - would try “to avoid this question as long as possible.

That is why the Union should carefully consider when the right time is. "

CDU Federal Vice Bouffier, on the other hand, is speeding up the selection of candidates.

The decision on the candidate for chancellor only goes jointly with the CDU and CSU, said the Hessian Prime Minister of the dpa.

The new CDU federal chairman must therefore very quickly find a way to get together with CSU boss Söder.

"And then I stick to my attitude: It would be very important that this is not delayed for long."

From Söder's point of view, the CDU should also wait and see, the sister party would first elect the new party leader in January: “After this decision, the CDU will need a few weeks to regroup and to get behind the new party leader gather.

One thing must not be ignored: the candidates also stand for different emphases and different coalition options of the Union. "

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The successor to party leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is to be chosen in mid-January.

North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Armin Laschet, ex-Union parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz and foreign politician Norbert Röttgen stand for the post.

The CSU is looking forward to the new leadership of the CDU.

They wanted to work closely together in the election year, said Söder.

He is expecting a very exciting election year.

“Anyone who thinks that today's polls are enough to get the Union into the Chancellery is wrong.

The office and trust bonus from Angela Merkel will then be lost.

We have to work hard to show that we have the best ideas for the future. "